Phagocytic and oxidative burst activity of chicken thrombocytes to Salmonella, Escherichia coli and other bacteria

The potential role of chicken thrombocytes in immune responses to Salmonella, Escherichia coli and other bacteria was investigated by in vitro assays of phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity. Thrombocytes were found to phagocytose bacteria, but were found to be less phagocytic than heterophils. Oxidative burst activity was generated upon challenge of thrombocytes with various Salmonella strains, E. coli, three other bacterial species, and zymosan A. These findings indicate that thrombocytes may play a role in innate immunity to bacteria in the chicken.