HSP and apoptosis in leukocytes from infected or vaccinated animals by Brucella abortus

The production of hsp and apoptosis of leukocytes in the peripheral blood o f animals naturally infected with Brucella spp or treated with the vaccine Brucella abortus 19 have been investigated in this study. Cytokines able to induce phagocytic activity in macrophages of non treated healthy animals were found in the supernatant of bovine leukocytes cultivat ed in vitro. A long-lasting antibody response against hsp 60 kDa and 27 kDa, which lasts a long time, is induced in naturally infected animals, while in animals va ccinated with B. abortus 19 we detected an antibody response against hsp 60 and 70 kDa which is much shorter, disappearing in two months. During the early phase of infection, lymphocytes and monocytes of naturally infected animals show a delay of apoptosis in vitro compared to the same c ells coming from healthy controls and vaccinated animals.