Dynamics and responsiveness of T-lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs of rabbits developing immunity to Eimeria intestinalis

Primary infection with Eimeria intestinalis confers very effective immunity against further infections in rabbits. This study was designed to determine the onset of the immune response in primary-infected rabbits and to characterise the immune status of protected rabbits. Variations in kinetics of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subpopulations were followed after primary infection at the intestinal sites of penetration (duodenum) and development (ileum), in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and in the spleen. The response against the parasite was measured by specific lymphocyte proliferation in the spleen and MLN and by determining specific IgG titres in serum. The mucosal immune response was strong after primary infection and was characterised by (i) transient increase in the percentages of intestinal CD4+ lymphocytes and MLN CD8+ lymphocytes 14 days PI and (ii) strong increase in the percentages of intestinal CD8+ lymphocytes from 14 days PI persisting throughout further infections. Extensive infiltration of the lamina propria with CD8+ lymphocytes was observed 14 days PI. The specific proliferative response started between 7 and 14 days PI in MLN but remained undetectable in spleens for up to 21 days, in contrast to “immunised” rabbits. The fact that systemic immune responses were low after primary infection, in contrast to indicators of mucosal immune responsiveness, suggests that protection of rabbits against E. intestinalis infection is due to an effective mucosal immune response, and that systemic responses that increase after successive infections are only reflections of repeated encounters with parasite antigens.