The in vivo sensitization of avian erythrocytes with Salmonella gallinarum polysaccharide

Abstract

The intravenous inoculation into fowls of large doses of crude polysaccharide preparations derived from a smooth strain of Salmonella gallinarum resulted in the adsorption of some of the polysaccharide on the surfaces of circulating erythrocytes. This in vivo adsorption, detectable by an antiglobulin haemagglutination test, lasted for a maximum of approximately 24 hours after inoculation of polysaccharide. Similarly, in vivo sensitization of avian erythrocytes reached a maximum at about 8-10 days following oral infection of fowls with Salm. gallinarum.

These results are discussed in relation to the ability of the reticulo-endothelial system to remove polysaccharide from the blood stream, and to the possible consequences of the hosts' immunological response to sensitized erythrocytes.