Local antibody production in the oviduct and gut of hens infected with a variant strain of infectious bronchitis virus.
Following infection of 16-week old specific pathogen-free (SPF) female chickens with an enterotropic variant of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strain G, IBV-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA were detected in tears, tracheal washes, oviduct washes, duodenal and caecal contents using class-specific monoclonal antibodies in enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). IgG antibody content was highest in tears on Day 7 post-infection (p.i.) and was still detectable on Day 23 p.i. Significant levels of IgG antibody were present in oviduct washes on Days 7 and 23 p.i. Tears showed the highest IgA antibody concentration of any sample on Day 7 p.i. but this decreased to an insignificant level by Day 17 p.i. Oviduct and tracheal washes had IgA antibodies on Day 7 p.i. Significant levels of both antibody classes were detected in duodenal contents on Day 17 p.i. only but neither was present in caecal contents. Using a method which compares titre of antibody produced from pieces of tissue at 4 degrees C with that at 37 degrees C as an indicator of local secretion, IgG and IgA antibody synthesis was demonstrated in the Harderian gland on Days 7 and 17 p.i. Local IgG antibody synthesis was seen in the oviduct on Day 7 p.i. but on Day 23 p.i. the optical density at 4 degrees C was higher than at 37 degrees C, suggestive of high concentrations of extracellular antibody. In a separate experiment, passively administered IBV antibody transuded from serum into oviduct washes but did not do so in the trachea. In a third experiment, ELISA and haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) titres of serum and oviduct washes from ten hens previously infected when day-old were compared with egg production. Maximum positive correlation was seen between HI titres of oviduct washes and egg production.
Raj
G D
GD
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral, UK.
Jones
R C
RC
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002645:Chickens; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001351:Infectious bronchitis virus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D010057:Oviducts / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G