FIG 2.

The recruitment of CD11b⁺ cells and the effects of macrophage depletion on survival in N. caninum-infected mice. (A) Mice were infected intraperitoneally with N. caninum tachyzoites. Peritoneal cells were harvested from uninfected or parasite-infected mice at 5 and 10 days postinfection (dpi). Cells were analyzed by flow cytometry to determine the absolute number of cells expressing CD11b. Bars indicate the average cell number for each experimental group (0 dpi, n = 3; 5 and 10 dpi, n = 5) and significant differences were determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test (**, P < 0.01). Data are representative of results from two independent experiments. (B) Flow cytometry by staining cells from peritoneal exudates of mice at 3 dpi with CD11b and F4/80 MAbs. (C) Mice treated with clodronate (n = 13) or PBS liposomes (n = 12) were infected with N. caninum tachyzoites. Survival of mice was monitored for 30 dpi. Data from two independent experiments were combined.