title: Mucosal and systemic humoral immune response of turkeys after infection and reinfection with a Chlamydia psittaci serovar D strain.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Chlamydia-specific antibodies in tears and tracheal washings (IgA and IgG) and sera (IgG) on chlamydial excretion during the course of an experimental infection and reinfection of turkeys with Chlamydia psittaci. Two groups of turkeys were experimentally infected with a serovar D strain of Chlamydia psittaci, either at the age of 7 days or at the age of 35 days. A third group was infected at the age of 7 days and reinfected with the same strain at 35 days of age. A control group consisted of sham infected turkeys. All turkeys were observed daily for clinical symptoms. At the age of 49 days, the turkeys were euthanized and examined for macroscopic lesions. Following primary infection and reinfection, turkeys were equally depressed and dyspneic. Necropsy findings revealed no significant differences in the lesions of the birds which received both the prime and challenge infection and the birds, which received only a single infection. Anti-chlamydial antibodies in sera, tears, and tracheal washings were determined by IgA and IgG immunoblot assays. A clear local and systemic antibody response towards a broad range of chlamydial antigens was already seen 10 to 14 days following the experimental infections at both 7 and 35 days of age. In spite of the presence of Chlamydia-specific antibodies in tears, tracheal washings, and sera, chlamydial excretion was observed in all infected and reinfected turkeys throughout the experiment. In most turkeys, this chlamydial excretion was detected in three or four tissues sampled at set times, i.e., the conjunctiva, nostrils, trachea, and cloaca.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Nerom
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ducatelle
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haesebrouck
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002460:Cell Line; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D009956:Psittacosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013666:Tears / Q000276:immunology; D014132:Trachea / Q000276:immunology; D014422:Turkeys
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G