Heterophil chemotaxis in chickens with natural Staphylococcal infections

Heterophil chemotaxis using heterophils isolated from the peripheral blood of five commercial broiler chickens naturally infected with staphylococcal bacteria was compared by the modified Boyden-chamber technique with chemotaxis of heterophils from two chickens from the same flock not infected with Staphylococcus (field controls) and from four healthy laboratory control broiler chickens. The infected chickens had gross and histologic lesions of staphylococcal tenosynovitis and osteomyelitis. Staphylococci were isolated from the lesions. Hematologic parameters and histologic lesions of infected chickens also were examined. Compared with field and laboratory controls, Staphylococcus-infected chickens had heterophilic leukocytosis. The heterophils of Staphylococcus-infected chickens had significantly lower chemotactic activity than both control groups in terms of random movement and directed chemotactic movement in response to stimulus. Toxic changes were observed in heterophils of some of the Staphylococcus-infected broilers.