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Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, January 2002, p. 83-91, Vol. 9, No. 1
1071-412X/01/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.9.1.83-91.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Lymphocyte Depletion in Ileal Peyer’s Patch Follicles in Lambs Infected with Eimeria ovinoidalis

Mona Aleksandersen,1* Kai-Inge Lie,1 Bjørn Gjerde,2 and Thor Landsverk1

Department of Morphology, Genetics, and Aquatic Biology,1 Department of Pharmacology, Microbiology, and Food Hygiene, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway2

Received 10 January 2001/ Returned for modification 2 April 2001/ Accepted 15 October 2001

A total of 14 lambs were experimentally infected with Eimeria ovinoidalis in two separate experiments in two consecutive years. Nine lambs served as uninoculated controls. Material was collected from the ileum 2 weeks after infection in eight lambs and 3 weeks after infection in six lambs. Lambs examined 2 weeks after infection had normal follicles. After three weeks, the follicle-associated epithelium covering the lymphoid follicles of the ileal Peyer’s patches showed fusions with adjacent absorptive epithelium, focal hyperplasia, and occasionally necrosis. Macrogametes, microgamonts, and oocysts were often found in the follicle-associated epithelium and the dome region. Various degrees of lymphocyte depletion were present in the ileal lymphoid follicles in all six infected lambs 3 weeks after infection, and four lambs had decreased follicle size. Reduced staining for leukocyte common antigen (CD45), B-cell markers, and the proliferation marker Ki-67 was present in these lambs. Application of the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling method for apoptotic cells revealed decreased staining in the ileal lymphoid follicles 3 weeks after infection. A marker of follicular dendritic cells, 5'- nucleotidase, showed increased reactivity, probably due to condensation of reticular cells following loss of follicle lymphocytes. Reduced staining for carbonic anhydrase in the follicle-associated epithelium and the domes was present in all six lambs examined 3 weeks after infection, indicating decreased production of carbonic anhydrase-reactive 50-nm particles and a decreased lymphoproliferative stimulus. In conclusion, the present study shows that severe E. ovinoidalis infection in lambs causes lesions of the follicle-associated epithelium and may result in lymphocyte depletion and atrophy of the ileal Peyer’s patch follicles.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Morphology, Genetics, and Aquatic Biology, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway. Phone: 47 22 96 45 00. Fax: 47 22 96 47 64. E-mail: mona.aleksandersen{at}veths.no.

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, January 2002, p. 83-91, Vol. 9, No. 1
1071-412X/01/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.9.1.83-91.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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