This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lillehoj, H. S.
Right arrow Articles by Trout, J. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lillehoj, H. S.
Right arrow Articles by Trout, J. M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 07 1996, 349-360, Vol 9, No. 3
Copyright © 1996 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Avian gut-associated lymphoid tissues and intestinal immune responses to Eimeria parasites

HS Lillehoj and JM Trout
Immunology and Disease Resistance Laboratory, Maryland 20705, USA. HLilleho@ggpl.ARSUSDA.gov

Coccidiosis, an intestinal infection caused by intracellular protozoan parasites belonging to several different species of Eimeria, seriously impairs the growth and feed utilization of livestock and poultry. Host immune responses to coccidial infection are complex. Animals infected with Eimeria spp. produce parasite-specific antibodies in both the circulation and mucosal secretions. However, it appears that antibody- mediated responses play a minor role in protection against coccidiosis. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that cell-mediated immunity plays a major role in resistance to infection. T lymphocytes appear to respond to coccidial infection through both cytokine production and a direct cytotoxic attack on infected cells. The exact mechanisms by which T cells eliminate the parasites, however, remain unclear. Although limited information is available on the intestinal immune system of chickens, gut lymphoid tissues have evolved specialized features that reflect their role as the first line of defense at mucosal surfaces, including both immunoregulatory cells and effector cells. This review summarizes our current understanding of the avian intestinal immune system and mucosal immune responses to Eimeria spp., providing an overview of the complex cellular and molecular events involved in intestinal immune responses to enteric pathogens.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Girgis, G. N., Sharif, S., Barta, J. R., Boermans, H. J., Smith, T. K. (2008). Immunomodulatory Effects of Feed-Borne Fusarium Mycotoxins in Chickens Infected with Coccidia. Exp. Biol. Med. 233: 1411-1420 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Friedman, A. (2008). Oral Tolerance in Birds and Mammals: Digestive Tract Development Determines the Strategy. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 17: 168-173 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lee, S. H., Lillehoj, H. S., Dalloul, R. A., Park, D. W., Hong, Y. H., Lin, J. J. (2007). Influence of Pediococcus-Based Probiotic on Coccidiosis in Broiler Chickens. Poult. Sci. 86: 63-66 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Haghighi, H. R., Gong, J., Gyles, C. L., Hayes, M. A., Zhou, H., Sanei, B., Chambers, J. R., Sharif, S. (2006). Probiotics stimulate production of natural antibodies in chickens.. CVI 13: 975-980 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Haghighi, H. R., Gong, J., Gyles, C. L., Hayes, M. A., Sanei, B., Parvizi, P., Gisavi, H., Chambers, J. R., Sharif, S. (2005). Modulation of Antibody-Mediated Immune Response by Probiotics in Chickens. CVI 12: 1387-1392 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Pantin-Jackwood, M. J., Brown, T. P., Huff, G. R. (2004). Proventriculitis in Broiler Chickens: Immunohistochemical Characterization of the Lymphocytes Infiltrating the Proventricular Glands. Vet Pathol 41: 641-648 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Allen, P. C., Fetterer, R. H. (2002). Recent Advances in Biology and Immunobiology of Eimeria Species and in Diagnosis and Control of Infection with These Coccidian Parasites of Poultry. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 15: 58-65 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Laurent, F., Mancassola, R., Lacroix, S., Menezes, R., Naciri, M. (2001). Analysis of Chicken Mucosal Immune Response to Eimeria tenella and Eimeria maxima Infection by Quantitative Reverse Transcription-PCR. Infect. Immun. 69: 2527-2534 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Kasper, L. H., Buzoni-Gatel, D. (2001). Ups and Downs of Mucosal Cellular Immunity against Protozoan Parasites. Infect. Immun. 69: 1-8 [Full Text]  
  • Yun, C. H., Lillehoj, H. S., Choi, K. D. (2000). Eimeria tenella Infection Induces Local Gamma Interferon Production and Intestinal Lymphocyte Subpopulation Changes. Infect. Immun. 68: 1282-1288 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»