Stimulation of avian respiratory phagocytes by Pasteurella multocida: effects of the route of exposure, bacterial dosage and strain, and the age of chickens.

The effects of the route of exposure (intratracheal [IT], drinking water [DW] and aerosolization [AS]), the age of chickens, and the dose of two vaccine strains of Pasteurella multocida (CU and M-9) on the number, phagocytic proportion and capacity of macrophages, granulocytes and lymphocytes (collectively avian respiratory phagocytes [ARPs]) were analyzed. Administration of P. multocida via the DW even at very high dose failed to stimulate ARPs. In contrast, administration of both strains of P. multocida either IT or by AS resulted in rapid and highly significant increases in the numbers of ARPs. 10 x 10(9) colony forming units (cfu) of aerosolized P. multocidaCU strain activated ARPs maximally in both young (3-6 weeks of age) and old (4-6 months of age) chickens. Old chickens responded in dose dependent manner to 20 x 10(9), 8 x 10(9), and 4 x 10(9) cfu of aerosolized P. multocida CU strain. Young chickens responded significantly only to 8 x 10(9) CU organisms. The M-9 and CU strains had limited differences in inducing migration of ARPs into the respiratory system of chickens or elevating phagocytic proportions and capacity of ARPs. The results indicate that the analyzed factors influence the response of ARPs to P. multocida to various degrees.