COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT OPSONINS ON THE PHAGOCYTOSIS OFFLUORESCEIN-LABELED STAPHYLOCOCCAL BACTERIA BY CHICKEN HETEROPHILS

Heterophil phagocytosis of fluorescein-labeled staphylococcal bacteria was analyzed by flow cyometry. Opsonization with two types of normal pooled sera and staphylococcal antisera significantly increased bacter ial phagocytosis compared to samples without an opsonin. The staphyloc occal antisera did not significantly increase bacterial phagocytosis c ompared to the normal pooled sera. Opsonization appears to increase ba cterial phagocytosis but specific antisera may not increase phagocytos is beyond that caused by pooled normal sera.