Figure 6

CD4 ⁺ , CD8 ⁺ and CD5 ⁺ T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and activated CD4 ⁺ T lymphocytes during the course of Mhf infection. Mean (±SD) cell counts of the CD4⁺ (A), CD8⁺ (B) and CD5⁺ T lymphocytes (C), CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio (D), B lymphocytes (CD45R/B220⁺, E) and activated CD4⁺ T lymphocytes (CD4⁺CD25⁺, F) at day 0 and during the 100-day pi period in group A (black dots, solid line) and group B (open triangles, dashed line). Cats were subcutaneously inoculated with Mhf at day 0. The onset of bacteremia in group A and B (day 7 pi, both groups) is indicated with a triangle. Boxes represent the time of peak bacteremia in group A (grey box) and B (dotted box). Statistically significant differences between group A and B are indicated with asterisks (p_MWU < 0.05). A CD4⁺ T lymphocyte counts changed significantly over time in group A (p_F = 0.0012, lower at day 21 pi compared with days 3, 70 and 98 pi, p_D < 0.05). B CD8⁺ T lymphocyte counts changed significantly over time in group A (p_F = 0.0002; lower at day 21 pi compared with days 3, 70 and 98 pi, p_D < 0.05). C CD5⁺ T lymphocyte counts changed significant over time in group A (p_F < 0.0002, lower at day 21 pi compared with days 3, 70 and 98 pi, p_D < 0.05). D CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio changed significantly over time in group A (p_F = 0.0002, lower at days 14 and 21 pi compared with day 0 and day 98 pi, p_D < 0.05). E B lymphocyte counts changed significantly over time in group A (p_F = 0.0103, lower at day 21 pi compared with day 3 pi, p_D < 0.05). F Activated CD4⁺ T lymphocyte counts changed significantly over time in group A (p_F < 0.0001, higher at days 3, 14 and 21 pi when compared with days 42, 56, 70 and 98 pi, p_D < 0.05) and group B (p_F = 0.0249, no significance in the posttest).