Cell-mediated immune protection in chickens against Pasteurella multocida

Immune protection by cellular immunity in chickens against Pasteurella multocida was investigated by in vivo and in vitro experiments using spleen cells and culture supernatants of immunised chickens. Intraperitoneal or intravenous transfer of immune splenic cells into normal chickens induced transmission of an as effective protection as that exhibited in immunised chickens. Immune protection was also obtained by intravenous treatment of chickens with culture supernatant fluid from immune splenic cells of hormonally bursectomised chickens. The in vitro experiment showed that intracellular bacterial proliferation was inhibited in peritoneal macrophages from immunised chickens, or from normal chickens sensitised with culture supernatant fluid of immune splenic cells, and the macrophages were protected from disruption by infection. Peritoneal macrophages sensitised with culture supernatant fluid from unimmunised splenic cells, or peritoneal macrophages from unimmunised chickens, allowed considerable intracellular proliferation of bacteria with almost complete breakdown of the macrophages within 24 hours after bacterial challenge. These data suggest that the protective immunity of chickens against P multocida was dependent on cell-mediated immunity by mediators such as the macrophage activating factor from T lymphocytes.