Genome-wide differential gene expression profiles in broiler chickens with gangrenous dermatitis

Immunization of turkeys with Clostridium septicum alpha toxin-based recombinant subunit proteins can confer protection against experimental Clostridial dermatitis

Clostridial dermatitis (CD), caused by Clostridium septicum, is an emerging disease of increasing economic importance in turkeys. Currently, there are no effective vaccines for CD control. Here, two non-toxic domains of C. septicum alpha toxin, namely ntATX-D1 and ntATX-D2, were identified, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli as recombinant subunit proteins to investigate their use as potential vaccine candidates. Experimental groups consisted of a Negative control (NCx) that did not receive C. septicum challenge, while the adjuvant-only Positive control (PCx), ntATX-D1 immunization (D1) and ntATX-D2 immunization (D2) groups received C. septicum challenge. Turkeys were immunized subcutaneously with 100 μg of protein at 7, 8 and 9 weeks of age along with an oil-in-water nano-emulsion adjuvant, followed by C. septicum challenge at 11 weeks of age. Results showed that while 46.2% of birds in the PCx group died post-challenge, the rate of mortality in D1- or D2-immunization groups was 13.3%. The gross and histopathological lesions in the skin, muscle and spleen showed that the disease severity was highest in PCx group, while the D2-immunized birds had significantly lower lesion scores when compared to PCx. Gene expression analysis revealed that PCx birds had significantly higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes in the skin, muscle and spleen than the NCx group, while the D2 group had significantly lower expression of these genes compared to PCx. Peripheral blood cellular analysis showed increased frequencies of activated CD4+ and/or CD8+ cells in the D1 and D2-immunized groups. Additionally, the immunized turkeys developed antigen-specific serum IgY antibodies. Collectively, these findings indicate that ntATX proteins, specifically the ntATX-D2 can be a promising vaccine candidate for protecting turkeys against CD and that the protection mechanisms may include downregulation of C. septicum-induced inflammation and increased CD4+ and CD8+ cellular activation.

Characterization of immune responses and immunopathology in turkeys experimentally infected with clostridial dermatitis-producing strains of Clostridium septicum

Clostridium septicum is one of the major causative agents of clostridial dermatitis (CD), an emerging disease of turkeys, characterized by sudden deaths and necrotic dermatitis. Despite its economic burden on the poultry industry, the immunopathological changes and pathogen-specific immune responses are poorly characterized. Here, we used three strains of C. septicum, namely Str. A1, Str. B1 and Str. C1, isolated from CD field outbreaks, to experimentally infect turkeys to evaluate local (skin and muscle) and systemic (spleen) pathological and immunological responses. Results showed that while all three strains produced an acute disease, Str. A1 and B1 caused significantly higher mortality when compared to Str. C1. Gross and histopathology evaluation showed that birds infected with Str. A1 and B1 had severe inflammatory, edematous, granulomatous and necrotic lesions in the skin, muscle and spleen, while these lesions produced by Str. C1 were relatively less severe and mostly confined to skin and/or muscle. Immune gene expression in these tissues showed that Str. B1-infected birds had significantly higher expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and interferon (IFN)γ genes compared to uninfected control, suggesting a robust inflammatory response both locally as well as systemically. The transcription of IL-1β and IFNγ in the muscle or spleen of Str. A1-infected birds and IL-1β in the skin of Str. C1-infected group was also significantly higher than control. Additionally, Str. A1 or B1-infected groups also had significantly higher IL-4 transcription in these tissues, while birds infected with all three strains developed C. septicum-specific serum antibodies. Furthermore, splenic cellular immunophenotyping in the infected turkeys showed a marked reduction in CD4+ cells. Collectively, it can be inferred that host responses against C. septicum involve an acute inflammatory response along with antibody production and that the disease severity seem to depend on the strain of C. septicum involved in CD in turkeys.

Immune Response Evaluation in Commercial Turkeys Affected with Clostridial Dermatitis

Clostridial dermatitis (CD), caused by Clostridium septicum and Clostridium perfringens, is an economically important emerging disease of turkeys characterized by sudden deaths and necrotic dermatitis. Immune responses in CD-affected commercial turkeys are poorly understood. In the present study, C. septicum was isolated from CD-affected commercial turkeys during a recent outbreak, and the tissues (skin, muscle, and spleen) were collected and analyzed for immune gene expression, along with samples from clinically healthy birds. The results showed that CD-affected turkeys had significantly higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IFNγ, and iNOS transcripts in the skin, muscle, and spleen tissues compared to healthy birds. Affected turkeys also had a significantly elevated transcription of toll-like receptor (TLR21) gene in the skin and spleen tissues, suggesting a role for this receptor in the immune recognition. The expression of IL-4 and IL-13 genes in the spleen and muscle was also significantly higher in the affected birds. Additional birds from the same affected and healthy farms examined for serology revealed that the CD-affected turkeys had significantly higher levels of serum IgM and IgY antibodies. Furthermore, in vitro stimulation of MQ-NCSU macrophages with C. septicum led to a significant transcriptional upregulation of IL-1β and IFNγ genes, while the IL-10 gene expression was downregulated. The surface expression of MHC-II protein and cellular production of nitric oxide were also significantly increased in the C. septicum-stimulated macrophages, indicating cellular activation. Collectively, our findings suggest that the host responses in CD-affected turkeys involve a robust inflammatory response as well as a response mediated by IL4/IL-13 cytokines that may aid in antibody-mediated immunity.

Differential expression analysis of the broiler tracheal proteins responsible for the immune response and muscle contraction induced by high concentration of ammonia using iTRAQ-coupled 2D LC-MS/MS

Ammonia has been considered the contaminant primarily responsible for respiratory disease in poultry. Even though it can cause tracheal lesions, its adverse effects on the trachea have not been sufficiently studied. The present study investigated tracheal changes in Arbor Acres broilers (Gallus gallus) induced by high concentration of ammonia using isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ)-based proteome analysis. In total, 3,706 proteins within false discovery rate of 1% were identified, including 119 significantly differentially expressed proteins. Functional analysis revealed that proteins related to immune response and muscle contraction were significantly enriched. With respect to the immune response, up-regulated proteins (like FGA) were pro-inflammatory, while down-regulated proteins participated in antigen processing and antigen presenting (like MYO1G), immunoglobulin and cathelicidin production (like fowlicidin-2), and immunodeficiency (like PTPRC). Regarding muscle contraction, all differentially expressed proteins (like TPM1) were up-regulated. An over-expression of mucin, which is a common feature of airway disease, was also observed. Additionally, the transcriptional alterations of 6 selected proteins were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Overall, proteomic changes suggested the onset of airway obstruction and diminished host defense in trachea after ammonia exposure. These results may serve as a valuable reference for future interventions against ammonia toxicity.

Effects of dexamethasone immunosuppression on turkey clostridial dermatitis

Clostridia represents a group of anaerobic spore-forming bacteria ubiquitous in the poultry environment. They are widely distributed in soil and survive for many years as highly resistant, inactive spores. They enter the body through wounds and contaminated feed as active bacteria or spores. Multiplication of clostridial bacteria occurs only in the absence of oxygen or in environments with very low concentrations of oxygen. During active multiplication, the clostridial organisms produce several toxins that are responsible for most of the clinical signs seen in clostridial diseases. Immunosuppression is a problem for the poultry industry. In modern, intensive poultry-rearing conditions, stress due to high population densities pose a considerable challenge for the immune system, and infectious agents can exploit this situation to cause disease. Immunosuppression may predispose turkeys to clostridial infection, resulting in clostridial dermatitis and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine whether immunosuppression predisposes turkeys to clostridial infection and causes clostridial dermatitis. We immunosuppressed 10-wk-old turkey poults with dexamethasone. The birds immunosuppressed and not immunosuppressed were then challenged with Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium septicum, or both and examined for the development of clostridial dermatitis. The dexamethasone-treated birds were found to be more susceptible to C. peifingens/C. septicum challenge and developed clostridial dermatitis than the no-dexamethasone-treated birds through the subcutaneous route. However, oral inoculation of the same agents did not cause any dermatitis lesions in either of the groups.

Transcriptional profiles of host-pathogen responses to necrotic enteritis and differential regulation of immune genes in two inbreed chicken lines showing disparate disease susceptibility

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an important intestinal infectious disease of commercial poultry flocks caused by Clostridium perfringens. Using an experimental model of NE involving co-infection with C. perfringens and Eimeria maxima, transcriptome profiling and functional genomics approaches were applied to identify the genetic mechanisms that might regulate the host response to this disease. Microarray hybridization identified 1,049 transcripts whose levels were altered (601 increased, 448 decreased) in intestinal lymphocytes from C. perfringens/E. maxima co-infected Ross chickens compared with uninfected controls. Five biological functions, all related to host immunity and inflammation, and 11 pathways were identified from this dataset. To further elucidate the role of host genetics in NE susceptibility, two inbred chicken lines, ADOL line 6 and line 7 which share an identical B² major histocompatibility complex haplotype but differ in their susceptibility to virus infection, were compared for clinical symptoms and the expression levels of a panel of immune-related genes during experimental NE. Line 6 chickens were more susceptible to development of experimental NE compared with line 7, as revealed by decreased body weight gain and increased E. maxima oocyst shedding. Of 21 immune-related genes examined, 15 were increased in C. perfringens/E. maxima co-infected line 6 vs. line 7 chickens. These results suggest that immune pathways are activated in response to experimental NE infection and that genetic determinants outside of the chicken B complex influence resistance to this disease.