Haemolytic Complement Activity and Humoral Immune Responses to Sheep Red Blood Cells in Indigenous Chickens and in Eight German Dahlem Red Chicken Lines with Different Combinations of Major Genes (dwarf, naked neck and frizzled) of Tropical Interest

R. Baelmans, H.K. Parmentier, M.G.B. Nieuwland, P. Dorny, F. Demey, D. Berkvens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A total of 376 chickens from different ecotypes were immunized with the non-pathogenic multideterminant antigen sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The ecotypes included indigenous chickens from various locations in Tanzania (n = 102), India (n = 86) and Bolivia (n = 89). In addition, eight German Dahlem Red (GDR) chicken lines with different major genes (dwarf, naked neck and frizzled) of tropical interest were also immunized with SRBC. Immune competence of the breeds was assessed by measuring complement haemolytic activity, both from the classical calcium-dependent complement pathway (CPW) and alternative calcium-independent complement pathway (APW), alongside IgTotal, IgG and IgM antibody responses to SRBC at 7 days post immunization. Large variations in complement activity and antibody responses to SRBC were observed within and between the indigenous breeds. Many indigenous chickens, especially from Bolivia, showed decreased complement activity (APW) following immunization with SRBC. Breeds from India showed the highest CPW activity and humoral (especially IgM) responses to SRBC, suggesting high immune competence. In contrast, Bolivian chickens were characterized by low CPW activity, low APW activity and low antibody levels to SRBC suggesting an overall low immune competence. In the GDR chickens, characterized by high CPW activity and high IgG antibody responses to SRBC, the major genes for naked neck, frizzling and dwarfism had no significant effect on the antibody responses and complement activity to SRBC.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-186
Number of pages14
JournalTropical Animal Health and Production
Volume37
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Keywords

  • low antibody-production
  • white leghorn chickens
  • histocompatibility complex
  • divergent selection
  • laying hens
  • immunocompetence
  • erythrocytes
  • multitrait
  • antigens
  • serum

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