Table 4 Pathological alterations in the chicks caecum of NS-MPLA-supplied, SP-challenged, and those SP-challenged, then NS-MPLA-treated at different time intervals
Cecal alterations | NS-MPLA supplied (Group II) | SP-challenged (Group III) | NS-MPLA treated post-SP challenge (Group IV) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1d | 2d | 3d | 4d | 1d | 5d | 9d | 13d | 1d | 2d | 5d | 9d | 13d | |
Mucosal damage | + | - | - | - | ++ | ++ | ++ | + | + | + | + | + | + |
lymphocyte infiltration | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | + | + | ++ | ++ | + | ++ | +++ | +++ | +++ |
Mucosal heterophilic infiltration | -- | - | - | ++ | ++ | + | + | - | - | ++ | ++ | +++ | ++ |
Size of lymphoid follicles | ++ | ++ | +++ | ++ | -ā | -ā | -ā | ++ | + | +++ | ++ | +++ | ++ |
Glandular epithelial proliferation and regeneration | ++ | ++ | ++ | ++ | + | + | ++ | ++ | + | ++ | +++ | +++ | + |