Numbers of circulating heterophils (defined by FSC/SSC characteristics and CD45 high expression), monocytes (defined by FSC/SSC characteristics and CD45 high and MRC1L-B expression), lymphocytes (defined by FSC/SSC characteristics and CD45 high expression and as CD41/61 negative) and thrombocytes (defined by CD41/61 expression) in peripheral blood were monitored using a no-lyse, no-wash flow cytometry based method (Additional file 2) at sampling prior to infection, day −3, and during 2 weeks after ER infection (Figure 1). Here, ITGA2B is linked to infection.