Emigration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes into the intestinal lumen of the neonatal piglet in response to challenge with K88-positive Escherichia coli.
The emigration of neutrophils from the blood of neonatal piglets into the intestinal lumen in response to a K88-positive strain of Escherichia coli was investigated. The pig herd used was of known genetic susceptibility to K88-positive E coli and had recently experienced an outbreak of neonatal diarrhoea. Neutrophil emigration depended on certain factors. Neutrophils emigrated into ligated loops in susceptible piglets sucking immune colostrum from susceptible dams but not into loops in colostrum deprived resistant piglets or piglets sucking non-immune colostrum from resistant dams. In susceptible, colostrum deprived piglets neutrophils in intestinal contents were only associated with severe lesions. Large numbers of neutrophils which appeared at several foci on the villi were observed in three of six resistant piglets that sucked immune colostrum from susceptible dams. It was concluded that neutrophil emigration into the intestinal lumen of piglets could occur in response to K88-positive E coli and resulted not from the presence or absence of the intestinal K88-receptor but from the ingestion of immune colostrum.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002465:Cell Movement; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C026888:K88 antigen, E coli; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins