Immunity against genital infection by Histophilus-ovis in rams

Abstract

Rams have been immunized against an infection of their genitalia by Histaphilus avis. An alum-precipitated antigen and an antigen plus Freund's complete adjuvant proved equally effective. An injection of live H. ovis into the epididymal tissue proved to be a better method of challenging immunity than an injection into the vas deferens. It was shown that cell-mediated immunity, as evidenced by tests for lymphocyte transformation, the presence of a macrophage migration inhibition factor and a delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction did not play a role in the resistance, nor did specific IgG antibodies have any protective influence. It was shown that neutrophils play a cardinal role in the immunity against H. ovis infection in so far as they phagocytize and destroy the organisms and are attracted to them by chemotaxis in immune animals.