Cell-mediated immunity to Eimeria in the fowl: the absence of cross-species protection is not due to the lack of cross-reactive T cells.
Immunity to Eimeria species in the fowl has been shown to be species specific and it has been proposed that the lack of cross-protection between the species of Eimeria is due to the absence of T cells which recognize antigens from a heterologous species. When this hypothesis was tested the results showed that antigens from E. tenella elicited a strong specific response by cells from birds immune to E. tenella. In contrast cells from birds which were immune to E. acervulina responded to a similar magnitude to both E. tenella and E. acervulina antigens. This indicates that the lack of cross-protection is not due to the lack of cross-reactive T cells.
Prowse
S J
SJ
CSIRO Division of Animal Health, Animal Health Research Laboratory, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004539:Eimeria / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*