IntroductionNew therapeutic strategies to modulate the immune response of human and equine allergic asthma are still under extensive investigation. Immunomodulating agents stimulating T‐regulatory cells offer new treatment options beyond conventional symptomatic treatment or specific immunotherapy for human and equine allergic airway diseases, with the goal of a homoeostatic T‐helper cell balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a nebulized gelatin nanoparticle‐CpG formulation (CpG‐GNP) with and without specific allergens for the treatment of spontaneous allergic equine asthma as a model for human asthma.MethodsTwenty equine asthma‐affected horses were treated either with CpG‐GNP alone or CpG‐GNP with allergens. Two specific allergens were selected for each horse based on history and an in‐vitro test. Each horse received seven administrations of the respective nebulized composition and was examined before treatment, immediately after and 6 weeks after the treatment course.ResultsClinical parameters such as breathing rate, indirect interpleural measurement, arterial blood gases, amount of tracheal mucus and percentage of neutrophils and cytokines in tracheal washes and serum samples were evaluated. Treatment with CpG‐GNP alone as well as in combinations with relevant allergens resulted in clinical improvement of nasal discharge, breathing rate, amount of secretion and viscosity, neutrophil percentage and partial oxygen pressure directly after and 6 weeks after treatment. There were no significant differences between the two treatments in clinical parameters or local cytokine profiles in the tracheal wash fluid (IL‐10, IFN‐g, and IL‐17). IL‐4 concentrations decreased significantly in both groups.ConclusionNonspecific CpG‐GNP‐based immunotherapy shows potential as a treatment for equine and possibly also human allergic asthma.

Objectives. Inhalation of immunostimulatory bacterial DNA segments (cytosine-phosphate-guanosine-oligodeoxynucleotides, CpG-ODN) normalizes clinical and cytologic parameters in severe equine asthma. We hypothesized that CpG-ODN inhalation also reduces the misbalance of elastinolytic activity in asthmatic horses. Methods. Twenty asthmatic horses diagnosed by clinical examinations using a scoring system were included. All horses inhaled CpG-ODNs for 14 days in 2-day intervals. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2/-9) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1/-2) concentrations were measured in tracheal aspirates using equine sandwich ELISAs before and 2 and 6 weeks after CpG-ODN inhalation. Results. MMP and TIMP concentrations correlated with the results of clinical scoring in all stages of equine asthma. Inhalation therapy led to significant reductions in clinical scores. MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 concentrations were significantly reduced immediately, and all MMP and TIMP concentrations 6 weeks after therapy. Discussion. In equine asthma, overexpression of MMPs contributes to pathological tissue destruction, while TIMPs counteract MMPs with overexpression leading to fibrosis formation. The results of this study show that CpG-ODN inhalation may be an effective therapy to address a misbalance in equine asthma. Conclusions. Misbalance of elastinolytic activity seems to improve by CpG-ODN inhalation for at least 6 weeks posttherapy, which may reduce the remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Further studies should evaluate this effect in comparison to glucocorticoid inhalation therapy. Significance. CpG-ODN inhalation may be an effective therapy in the prevention of pulmonary fibrosis formation in equine asthma.

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Clinical Research Abstracts British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015 Foreword and AcknowledgementsThis supplement is devoted to the publication of abstracts from the 2015 Congress of The British Equine Veterinary Association. The quality of research at the Congress was, as in previous years, high, and the selection process was difficult. Despite the inclusion of a larger number of research communications than in previous years only two-thirds of those submitted could be accepted. This year's Congress committee utilised the selection process initiated last year by Professor Celia Marr in partnership with EVJ. Abstracts were reviewed and objectively graded by two peer reviewers and a member of the Congress Committee before being subjected to a final selection process overseen by the Congress Chair. Thereafter, abstracts had to satisfy the requirements of EVJ for publication in this supplement. Those authors who have had their work accepted should be proud of their achievement. Those who were unsuccessful are doubtless disappointed; however, they have the reassurance that the standard was high and the process was fair.Implementing such a process necessitates a considerable amount of work by dozens of individuals. I am extremely grateful to Professor Celia Marr, Sue Wright and Jane Woodley at EVJ for inviting the Congress Committee to work in partnership with them and for enabling us to utilise their review process. Without the infrastructure provided by EVJ, such a comprehensive review process would not have been possible, and without the endless patience and assistance of the aforementioned individuals, it could not have worked. The Congress Committee themselves: Debbie Archer, Madeleine Campbell, Huw Griffiths, Philip Ivens, Andy Fiske-Jackson, Malcolm Morley, Michael Schramme, Henry Tremaine and Lesley Young deserve thanks and recognition for a year of hard work. Particular thanks also to all of the anonymous peer reviewers who receive no recognition but gave their time not only to grade the abstracts submitted but also to provide constructive feedback to their authors.The selection process adopted for BEVA Congress sets a standard for other meetings to follow. Given the increasing competition for acceptance of research communications at major international meetings, and the importance of achieving acceptance for those seeking to fulfil the requirements of specialist colleges, such a rigourous selection process seems only right. David Rendle Chairman BEVA 2015 Scientific Programme Guardians Congress Session Sponsors EFFICACY OF OVIDUCTAL FLUSHING WITH PGE2, IN MARES, IN AND OUT OF THE BREEDING SEASONMartynski, P.D., Payne, R.J. and Wylie, C.E. Rossdales Equine Hospital & Diagnostic Centre, Cotton End Road, Exning, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7NN, UK. Email: pmartynski@rvc.ac.uk Reasons for performing study: There are limited data surrounding the efficacy of oviductal flushing in restoring fertility in mares with repeated returns to oestrus. Objectives:To determine the conception and foaling rates in...

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