Humoral and local antibodies in chickens with mixed infection with three Mycoplasma species.
Eight one-year-old commercial layer hens with strong humoral antibody response to Mycoplasma synoviae were examined for mycoplasmas. Cultures from the respiratory tract, the Harderian gland and the oviduct showed the group to be infected with M. synoviae, M. gallisepticum, M. gallinarum and Bordetella avium. The humoral antibody response to M. synoviae was strongly positive and supported by high titre specific IgG and IgM class antibody, while that against M. gallisepticum and M. gallinarum was weak or undetectable. However, an antibody response to M. gallisepticum and M. gallinarum was demonstrated in the Harderian gland, respiratory secretions and oviduct of some birds along with antibody to M. synoviae. In contrast with serum, antibodies of IgA and IgG classes against M. gallisepticum were observed in the extracts of spleen of all birds. These data indicate that adult chickens are capable of mounting an antibody response against at least three Mycoplasma species during a mixed infection but it may be necessary to examine tissues as well as serum to demonstrate them.
Bencina
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Biotechnical Faculty, Zootechnical Department, University of Ljubljana, Domzale, Yugoslavia.
Svetlin
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A
Dorrer
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D
Tadina-Jaksic
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T