Decreased resistance and immune response to Escherichia coli infection in chicks with low or high intakes of vitamin A

A. Friedman*, A. Meidovsky, G. Leitner, D. Sklan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

73 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of vitamin A excess or insufficiency on resistance to Escherichia coli infection and subsequent anti-E. coli immune responses were examined in chicks. Chicks receiving depleted (0 μg/kg), sufficient (0.85 mg/kg) or excess (1000 mg/kg) levels of vitamin A in their feed were inoculated by a subcutaneous injection of pathogenic E. coli (1 x 109 and 2 x 109 cfu per chick). Susceptibility to E. coli was determined by mortality, morbidity and immune responses (antibody production and T lymphocyte proliferation). Excess or insufficient vitamin A led to increased susceptibility of chicks to E. coli infection; this was accompanied by depressed immune responses. Chicks receiving excess vitamin A were more sensitive to E. coli than vitamin A-depleted chicks. This was reflected in higher mortality and morbidity rates and in severely depressed immune responses. In contrast to chicks receiving excess vitamin A, T lymphocyte responses (though not antibody responses) of vitamin A-depleted chicks achieved levels similar to those of vitamin A-sufficient birds with a lag period of 6 to 10 d. Therefore, reduction in resistance to E. coli infection, resulting from vitamin A excess or deficiency, probably was compounded by a delayed immune response.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)395-400
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Nutrition
Volume121
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991

Keywords

  • Chicks
  • E. coli
  • Immune response
  • Infection
  • Vitamin A

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Decreased resistance and immune response to Escherichia coli infection in chicks with low or high intakes of vitamin A'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this