Chicks were infected with a flagellated Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum strain (SG Fla+) or a wild-type strain (SG).
SG Fla+ was less pathogenic for 5-day-old chicks than SG, inducing lower mortality and fewer lesions.
SG Fla+ induced more CD4+ T lymphocytes and fewer CD8+ lymphocytes in the liver than SG.
Levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-18 mRNA were lower in chicks infected with SG Fla+ than chicks infected with SG.