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Chronic zinc deficiency and listeriosis in rats: acquired cellular resistance and response to vaccination

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Abstract

The functional significance of zinc deficiency on primary and secondary host responses to infection with a facultative intracellular pathogen was studied in specific pathogen free rats. Groups of female rats fed either a low zinc or normal diet for 8 or 10 weeks were infected withListeria monocytogenes five days prior to sacrifice. Zinc-deficient rats demostrated thymic atrophy, reduced delayed hypersensitivity responses to listeria antigen, and impaired lymphocyte response of spleen cells to phytohemagglutinin, but not to Concanavalin A. Separate groups of zinc-deficient or control rats were vaccinated with viableL. monocytogenes 10 days prior to respiratory challenge. Vaccination resulted in successful control of bacteria in both dietary groups.

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Author notes

  1. M. A. Carlomagno

    Present address: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET), Rivadavia 1917, Buenos Aires, Argentina

  2. L. Graham Coghlan

    Present address: Veterinary Resources Division, University of Texas System Cancer Center, Science Park, 78602, Bastrop, TX, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, 77843, College Station, TX, USA

    M. A. Carlomagno, L. Graham Coghlan & D. N. McMurray

Authors
  1. M. A. Carlomagno
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  2. L. Graham Coghlan
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  3. D. N. McMurray
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Carlomagno, M.A., Coghlan, L.G. & McMurray, D.N. Chronic zinc deficiency and listeriosis in rats: acquired cellular resistance and response to vaccination. Med Microbiol Immunol 175, 271–280 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02126048

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02126048

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