J Vet Sci. 2005 Dec;6(4):357-359   
 

Experimental reproduction of proliferative enteropathy and the role of IFN-gamma in protective immunity against Lawsonia intracellularis in mice

Yun-Young Go1, Jeong-Keun Lee1, Jeong-Yong Ye3, Joong-Bok Lee1, 2, Seung-Yong Park1, 2, Chang-Seon Song1, Soo-Ki Kim2,4In-Soo Choi1,2,*
 

1Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
2Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
3Foreign Animal Disease Division, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang 430-016, Korea.
4Department of Animal Sciences and Environment, College of Animal Husbandry, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea
 

Proliferative enteropathy was reproduced in IFN-gamma receptor knockout (IFN-gamma R-) mice by experimental infection with Lawsonia intracellularis (L. intracellularis). The cecum and the colon of the infected mice were evidently enlarged 2 weeks post infection. The presence of L. intracellularis was identified in the stool and the cecum of the mice after infection. However, high levels of IFN-gamma were detected in the sera of the infected mice 2 weeks PI. These data indicated that the IFN-gamma produced in the infected mice should have been utilized by it's receptor to elicit protective immune responses against L. intracellularis infections.