title: The systemic multiplication of Gallibacterium anatis in experimentally infected chickens is promoted by immunosuppressive drugs which have a less specific effect on the depletion of leukocytes.
abstract: The progression of Gallibacterium anatis infection in immunosuppressed versus immunocompetent chickens was investigated. Before experimental infection, birds were treated with corticosterone for general immunosuppression, or 5-fluorouracil, cyclosporine-A, cyclophosphamide for depletion of specific leukocyte populations. Necropsy and sampling were performed at 0, 3, 7, 10 and 28 days post infection. The used drugs did not cause selected depletion of B cells, T cells, heterophils and monocytes/macrophages, as determined by quantification of leukocytes in blood and lymphoid organs using different technologies. Bacterial re-isolation and counts of colony forming units (CFU) showed that G. anatis colonization pattern in various organs, and the numbers of bacteria in trachea were not affected by immunosuppression. However, the treatments acutely increased CFU counts derived from the spleen, which demonstrates that chemically induced immunosuppression intensifies systemic multiplication of G. anatis in chickens.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Surya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paudel
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wernsdorf
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Käser
authors.affiliation: Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna and University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meitz
authors.affiliation: Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University Vienna and University Vienna, Austria; Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jensen-Jarolim
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: dieter.liebhart@vetmeduni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liebhart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D015661:Pasteurellaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D016871:Pasteurellaceae Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: Chickens; Gallibacterium anatis; Leukocyte quantification; Non-selective Immunosuppression