The Effect of Age at Photostimulation on Breeder Hen and Chick Ibd and Reo Serum Titers. Evaluation of Incineration for Disposal of Poultry

s of papers 7 25 Alloantigen system L affects antibody responses. Z. O. Medarova*1, W. E. Briles2, and R. L. Taylor, Jr.1, 1Department of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, 2Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115. Alloantigen system L encodes a polymorphic 135kD protein expressed on the surface of chicken erythrocytes and possibly certain leukocyte subpopulations. Previous work found L system effects on Rous sarcoma fate, cecal coccidiosis, and phagocytic function. The present study examined the L system influence on antibody responses to two antigens: SRBC (T-dependent) and Brucella abortus (BA, partially T-independent) in three B complex genotypes. The parental stock were 50% Modified Wisconsin Line 3 x White Leghorn NIU Line 4 and 50% Inbred Line 6-15.5. Pedigree matings of 4 B2/B5 L1/L2 sires to 5 B2/B5 L1/L2 dams per sire produced experimental chicks segregating independently for B and L genes. Three hatches totaling one hundred and eighty three experimental progeny were tested for antibody response to SRBC. A total of one hundred and ninety eight progeny from two hatches were tested for antibody response to BA. At 4 and 11 weeks of age, the experimental birds were injected intravenously with 1 mL of 2.5% SRBC or 0.1 mL of 10% BA. Microtiter agglutination procedures were used to measure total and mercaptoethanol resistant (MER) antibody following primary and secondary immunization. All titers to both antigens were analyzed by least squares ANOVA. In the B5/B5 background, the L system had significant (p < 0.004) effects on total primary antibody to SRBC. Both total (p < 0.011) and MER (p < 0.017) secondary antibodies to SRBC were significantly influenced by the L system in the B2/B5 background. Total (p < 0.004) and MER (p < 0.005) secondary titers against BA in the B2/B5 background were affected significantly by L genotypes. The data indicate that the alloantigen L locus or genes in the immediate chromosomal vicinity affect antibody responses to SRBC and BA.