The recovery of L. monocytogenes from intestine and tissues of vitamin E treated turkeys was generally lower than that of control diet turkeys. The reason for the observed difference in the clearance of L. monocytogenes among diet treatments could be related to changes in immune responses after vitamin E treatment. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were elevated at 6- and 8- DPI in infected turkeys given 200 IU vitamin E. Taken together, these data suggest that vitamin E may stimulate host defenses, which may augment clearance of L. monocytogenes.