The cellular response of the fowl small intestine to primary and secondary infections of the cestode Raillietina cesticillus (Molin).

Infections of Raillietina cesticillus in the small intestine of the fowl caused a mononuclear leucocyte infiltration, which occurred in the tissues around the worm scolices and was especially prevalent in challenge infections. There was no evidence of vascular congestion or of a neutrophilic response, and the cellular reaction seemed to consist of a local proliferation of lymphoid tissue. Mast cell and pyroninophylic cell numbers increased in the intestinal mucosa of birds with longstanding primary infections and with secondary infections, but very little eosinlophil infiltration was detected and the globule leucocyte response was minimal. The infections had no effect on the numbers of theliolymphocytes and goblet cells. Challenge infections did not result in an increased level of serum antibodies, but more cells containing globulin seemed to be present in the intestinal mucosa of these birds. The interrelationships of the various cell responses to the cestode and the origin of the globule leucocyte are discussed in the light of previous work on helminth infections.