Interactions of porcine lymphocytes with Campylobacter-like organism membranes purified from proliferative enteropathy.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells prepared from 6 healthy pigs and 6 pigs apparently affected by proliferative enteropathy were incubated with dilutions of a sonicate of purified Campylobacter-like organisms 872/87 prepared from a separate case of proliferative enteropathy. Incubations were carried out in RPMI 1640 medium, supplemented with foetal calf serum, L-glutamine, sodium pyruvate and 2-mercaptoethanol for 5 days, with relevant concanavilin A and medium controls. Marked stimulation of lymphocyte proliferation was clearly evident in samples prepared from the pigs apparently affected by proliferative enteropathy (peak stimulation index 4.4-13.2) compared to the healthy pigs (peak stimulation index 3.0). Diagnosis of proliferative enteropathy in these naturally derived cases was confirmed by a specific IgM indirect immunofluorescence assay. The results suggested that a specific antigen-related mitogenesis of blood lymphocytes occurs in pigs affected by proliferative enteropathy. This may have implications for immunization regimes.