Analysis of interferon-gamma producing cells during infections by Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 and Brucella abortus in cattle

• Published in: Veterinaria italiana Vol. 55; no. 2; p. 149
• Main Authors: Agnone, Annalisa, Marco Pio La Manna, Vesco, Gesualdo, Gargano, Valeria, Macaluso, Giusi, Dieli, Francesco, Sireci, Guido, Villari, Sara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Teramo Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise G. Caporale 30-06-2019
• Subjects: Antigens; Brucella; Brucella abortus; Brucellosis; Cattle; CD4 antigen; CD8 antigen; Cross-reactivity; Flow cytometry; FN-γ T cells; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Lymphocytes T; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Statistical analysis; Surface antigens; Yersinia; Yersinia enterocolitica; Yersinia enterocolitica O; γ-Interferon
• ISSN: 0505-401X; 1828-1427
• DOI: 10.12834/VetIt.1374.7538.2

One of the major constraints in the diagnosis of animal brucellosis is the cross-reactivity that occurs between Brucella and Yersinia surface antigens. With the aim to find a method to distinguish Brucella from Yersinia infection, the expansion of interferon gamma producing (IFN-γ+) T cell subsets obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from cattle either infected by Brucella abortus or experimentally immunized with Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 were compared. The lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry after PBMC were in vitro re-exposed to Yersinia or Brucella antigens. The results highlighted a statistically significant difference in the expansion of the CD4+ and CD8+ IFN-γ+ T cells occurring when PBMC of animals immunized with Yersinia are in vitro exposed to Y. enterocolitica O:9 antigen but not to Brucella antigen. This method could thus be suggested in those cases where results obtained by serodiagnosis need to be further clarified.