Figure 4.

SE load in the cecal content of vaccinated and challenge birds, and Salmonella specific lymphocytes proliferation response in splenocytes. (A) Salmonella CFU was enumerated in cecal content by plating on XLD agar plates (I and II). (B,C) Splenocytes harvested on the day of necropsy were stimulated with (B) FLA protein (I and II) or (C) KAg (I and II) for 48 h and lymphocytes stimulation index (SI) value was calculated by the mean OD of specific antigen (FLA/KAg) stimulated proliferation/mean OD of non-stimulated proliferation by a colorimetric assay. Each bar is the mean ± SEM of 6 or 5 birds. Significant differences were calculated between vaccinated and Sol. Ag (OMP+FLA) or mock group by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post-hoc test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.