Chemiluminescence of bovine alveolar macrophages as an indicator of developing immunity in calves vaccinated with aromatic-dependent Salmonella

Chemiluminescence of bovine alveolar macrophages was used to study the development of opsonins in calves vaccinated parenterally with live aromatic-dependent strains of either S. dublin or S. typhimurium. These calves responded by producing Salmonella-specific opsonins detected by increased chemiluminescent responses, and were able to survive oral challenge with live virulent organisms of either serotype. Non-vaccinated calves of the same age lacked Salmonella-specific opsonins and were not able to survive challenge. Thus it was concluded that the ability to produce opsonins is among the immunological responses that are associated with protection against salmonellosis in calves. Antigenic similarities between S. dublin and S. typhimurium were shown by the ability of either organism to absorb significant amounts of opsonic capacity from the sera of calves vaccinated with either of the two vaccines. These antigenic similarities are thought to explain in part the ability of either vaccine to protect against challenge with either the homologous or heterologous Salmonella serotype.