IMMUNOPROPHYLAXIS OF SALMONELLA-ENTERITIDIS INFECTION BY LYMPHOKINES IN LEGHORN CHICKS

Chickens were treated prophylactically with the soluble products from Con A-stimulated T-lymphocytes from Salmonella enteritidis-infected ch ickens in order to investigate the effect of such prophylactic treatme nt on organ invasion by S. enteritidis. At 18 days of age, chicks were injected intraperitoneally with one of the following: A) the Amicon Y M 10 ultrafiltrate from immunized chickens, B) the Amicon YM 10 ultrar etentate material from immunized chickens, or C) the Amicon YM 10 ultr aretentate material from control nonimmune chickens. Thirty minutes af ter lymphokine injection, all birds were challenged per os with 10(8) colony-forming units of S. enteritidis. At both 1 and 6 days post-chal lenge, prophylactic treatment of chickens with the immune retentate re sulted in a 51-60% reduction in S. enteritidis organ invasion. The red uction in S. enteritidis organ invasion was associated with a signific ant increase in lamina propria thickness based on morphometric analysi s (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the prophylactic administ ration of S. enteritidis-immune lymphokines induces protection against S. enteritidis organ invasion, which is associated with a measurable microanatomical change in the cecal mucosa.