Clinical and serum antibody responses to lambs to infection by Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract

Oral dosing of lambs with 1 x 10(10) colony forming units of Listeria monocytogenes daily for three days produced no clinical signs but protected the animals against bacteraemia following subsequent homologous subcutaneous challenge. Following the subcutaneous injections, comparison with controls revealed significantly lower rectal temperatures and a significant difference in positive blood cultures. In both groups signs of systemic illness were unremarkable. However, two and 10 days after the subcutaneous challenges neurological signs developed in two lambs. L monocytogenes was isolated from the brain of one lamb and histopathological lesions of listeric encephalomyelitis were demonstrated in both. After oral infection antibodies to L monocytogenes whole cell antigen were detectable in serum agglutination tests and by ELISA. Serological responses to flagellin were examined by ELISA and to listeriolysin O by immunoblotting. The responses of the animals to flagellin were weak and inconsistent, but antibodies to listeriolysin O were detectable after both oral and subcutaneous challenge. The subclass of antibody involved in this response was shown to be predominantly IgG1.