Abstract
The functional significance of zinc deficiency on primary and secondary host responses to infection with a facultative intracellular pathogen was studied in specific pathogen free rats. Groups of female rats fed either a low zinc or normal diet for 8 or 10 weeks were infected with Listeria monocytogenes five days prior to sacrifice. Zinc-deficient rats demostrated thymic atrophy, reduced delayed hypersensitivity responses to listeria antigen, and impaired lymphocyte response of spleen cells to phytohemagglutinin, but not to Concanavalin A. Separate groups of zinc-deficient or control rats were vaccinated with viable L. monocytogenes 10 days prior to respiratory challenge. Vaccination resulted in successful control of bacteria in both dietary groups.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 271-280 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Medical Microbiology and Immunology |
Volume | 175 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1986 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Microbiology (medical)