Vaccination against histomonosis limits pronounced changes of B cells and T-cell subsets in turkeys and chickens

• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.06.035
• Publication Date: 2017-06-27T02:30:30Z
• Authors: Taniya Mitra; Wilhelm Gerner; Fana Alem Kidane; Patricia Wernsdorf; Michael Hess; Armin Saalmüller; Dieter Liebhart
• Keywords: Caecum

The protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis is the causative agent of histomonosis in gallinaceous birds. In turkeys, disease can result high mortality due to severe inflammation and necrosis caecum liver, whereas chickens less severe. Recently, experimental vaccination was shown protect turkeys against but dynamics cellular immune response are not yet demonstrated. present work, different groups birds both species were vaccinated with attenuated, and/or infected virulent histomonads. Flow cytometry applied at days post inoculation analyse absolute number T-cell subsets B cells caecum, spleen blood, order monitor changes these major lymphocyte subsets. addition, chicken samples total white blood investigated. Infected showed a significant decrease T within one week infection compared control birds, delayed changes. challenge led increase all investigated lymphocytes already 4 DPI, indicating an effective fast recall primed system. chickens, cells, CD4+ CD8α+ much pronounced than however, mostly caused by Analyses whole non-vaccinated revealed increasing numbers monocytes/macrophages on sampling days, heterophils observed directly after challenge, suggesting recruitment this cell population local site infection. Our results that histomonads more distribution chickens. Moreover, attenuated resulted alterations species, even challenge.