Effect of a range of social stress severity on Escherichia coli challenge infection.
Chickens were exposed to various degrees of social stress 1 day before being exposed to Escherichia coli air-sac challenge exposure. Increasing levels of social stress resulted in increased heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios. Resistance to E coli air-sac challenge infection increased in correspondence with H/L ratios. However, as H/L ratios increased above the 0.72 value, there was a corresponding decrease in resistance to E coli challenge infection. Changes in H/L ratios, in response to social environment, differed with genetic stocks. Social stress was greatest when chickens housed singly for 3 weeks were placed among 5 unfamiliar chickens.
D000400:Air Sacs / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012931:Social Environment; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000662:veterinary*