title: Cell-mediated immune response in swine infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium.
abstract: The zoonotic characteristic of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (MAA) represents a veterinary and economic problem in infected pigs. In this study, we analysed cell-mediated immunity six months after experimental infection by measuring interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production and by performing lymphocyte transformation tests after in vitro re-stimulation with the MAA-derived antigen. At the same time, IFN-γ-producing cells were characterised by flow cytometry. In MAA-infected animals, the production of IFN-γ increased in response to the MAA antigen in the blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. Similarly, a positive antigen-driven response was detected by the proliferation assay. In contrast, IFN-γ production and proliferation was undetectable after stimulation with the MAA antigen in uninfected control animals. These results indicate that both methods can be used for the identification of individual MAA-infected pigs. Using flow cytometry, we found that double-positive CD4(+)CD8(+) lymphocytes were the major T lymphocyte subset producing IFN-γ after in vitro re-stimulation.
authors: Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors: Hana
authors: H
authors: Stepanova
authors: Barbora
authors: B
authors: Pavlova
authors: Nikola
authors: N
authors: Stromerova
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Matiasovic
authors: Marija
authors: M
authors: Kaevska
authors: Ivo
authors: I
authors: Pavlik
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Faldyna