Interactions of porcine lymphocytes with Campylobacter-like organism membranes purified from proliferative enteropathy

Abstract

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells prepared from 6 healthy pigs and 6 pigs apparently affected by proliferative enteropathy were incubated with dilutions of a sonicate of purified Campylobacter-like organisms 872/87 prepared from a separate case of proliferative enteropathy. Incubations were carried out in RPMI 1640 medium, supplemented with foetal calf serum, L-glutamie, sodium pyruvate and 2-mercaptoethanol for 5 days, with relevant concanavilin A and medium controls. Marked stimulation of lymphocyte proliferation was clearly evident in samples prepared from the pigs apparently affected by proliferative enteropathy (peak stimulation index 4.4–13.2) compared to the healthy pigs (peak stimulation index 3.0). Diagnosis of proliferative enteropathy in these naturally derived cases was confirmed by a specific IgM indirect immunofluorescence assay. The results suggested that a specific antigen-related mitogenesis of blood lymphocytes occurs in pigs affected by proliferative enteropathy. This may have implications for immunization regimes.