Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

1976

Keywords

Immune serums, Antigens, Antibodies, Immune response, Immunoglobulins, Antigen-antibody reactions

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

August P. Mueller

Second Advisor

John J. Christian

Third Advisor

Fredrick J. Kull

Abstract

This study provides evidence for the presence of detectable skin-sensitizing antibody (ssa) to BSA in the primary immune serums of White Leghorn cockerels and cocks of the B-300 strain. Tests for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) were found to be specific and reproducible for determining the presence of this antibody when the tests were conducted in 2-4 week old cockerels of the same strain.

The rise and fall of the ssa closely paralleled the rise and fall of precipitating antibody (ppt) detected in the serums of these birds. It was determined that animals who produced good ssa usually produced high titered ppt; however, there could be found no definite correlation between the strength of the ppt and the presence or absence of ssa in the serums tested. The latter was determined when, in some instances serums with high ppt titers gave negative PCA responses and on other occasions serums with relatively weak ppt titers gave strong PCA responses.

The ability to produce both ssa and ppt antibody increased as the chronological age of the chicken increased. The antibody levels of the animals in the 4 week old group were less than those found in the 8 week old birds; and the levels in the 8 week old birds lower than those of 16 and 18 week old cocks. No difference was noted when comparisons were made between the serums of the 16 and 18 week old birds.

Active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA) or direct skin tests performed on immunized birds proved to be more sensitive indicators of the presence of ssa than were the PCA tests. These ACA tests indicated that the ssa persisted in the skin for longer periods of time than could be detected in the serum of the same animal. ACA reactions further revealed that birds, whose serums did not elicit PCA responses, could display positive direct skin tests. It was also found that ACA responses could be elicited in 16 and 30 week old cocks; whereas birds older than 6 weeks could not demonstrate PCA responses when challenged with known positive serums.

Studies of the biological and physicochemical properties of ssa indicated that: (1) a short 2-4 hour latent period was optimal for the PCA response; (2) the antibody was heat stable at 56° C and was resistant to denaturing by 2-ME; and (3) ssa transferred to the skin of a heterologous species failed to produce positive PCA responses. These properties were similar to those manifested by mammalian IgG-1 skin-sensitizing antibody.

The administration of B. pertussis at the time of immunization depressed the ppt titers and the production of ssa in these animals. The depression of antibody synthesis was more prominent in the younger age groups and may have been dose related. This suppressive effect on antibody production seems to be unique for avian species.

Download

Share

COinS