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Although immune responses are beneficial in that they eliminate invading bacteria, this is not
always the ease. The immune responses can influence the course of a bacterial disease without
producing a cure and ill Some Situatiol1s may increase it is seventy. the adverse consequences
of the immune responses correspond in their mechanisms to the hypersensitivity types
described in Chapters 26 to 29. for example, a local type 1 hypersensitivity reaction is
sometimes seen in sheep vaccinated against foot rot by means of Fusobaicterium necrophorum
vaccine, but in this case it is believed that the hypersensitivity may assist in preventing
reinfection.
type II (cytotoxic) reactions may account for the anemia seen in animals with salmonellosis. In
these infections, bacterial lipopolysaccharides from disrupted bacteria are adsorbed onto
erythrocytes. The subsequent immune response against the bacterium and its products
therefore results in red cell destruction. Although a similar anemia is observed in leptospirosis,
its mechanism is unknown, since anti bodies produced by infected animals may agglutinate
normal red cells taken from the same animal before infection.
type III (immune complex) reactions may contribute to the development of arthritis in
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infections in pigs or to the development of intestinal lesions in
Johnes disease due to mycobacterium paratuberculosis . In the former case, bacterial antigen
localize in joints, where local immune complex formation then results iii inflammation and
arthritis. Passively administered antiserum may therefore exacerbate the arthritis in these
infected animals. In Johnes (lisease, type I or type III reactions occurring in the intestinal
mucosa may increase the outflow of fluid and diarrhea. It is probable, however, that the
intestinal lesions in this disease are etiologicallv complex, since diarrhea can be transferred to
normal calves by either plasma or leukocvtes, and antihistaimines may reduce the diarrhea.
type Ill hypersensitivity reactions are involved in purpura hemorrhagica of horses, in which
immunecomplex lesions result from the animals response to S. equi.
Although cell mediated immune responses are manifestly beneficial, they do contribute to
the development of granulomatous lesions in sonic chronic infections. The development of
large granulomas, although serving to wall off invading bacteria and so prevent their spread,
may also involve uninfected tissues. If these granulomas invade essential structures such as
airways in the lungs or large blood vessels, damage may be severe.