HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cheema, M. A. Articles by Nestor, K. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cheema, M. A. Articles by Nestor, K. E.

A Comparison of the Immune Response of 2003 Commercial Turkeys and a 1966 Randombred Strain When Fed Representative 2003 and 1966 Turkey Diets¹

M. A. Cheema^*, M. A. Qureshi, G. B. Havenstein^*,2, P. R. Ferket^* and K. E. Nestor

^* Department of Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7608; USDA/Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-2220; and Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691

² Corresponding author: Gerald_Havenstein{at}ncsu.edu

The immunological performance of modern turkeys (one-third each of the Nicholas Turkey, British United Turkeys of America, and Hybrid Turkey strains) hatched in 2003 (2003 strain) was compared with that of a randombred control turkey strain (RBC2) established in calendar year 1966, when fed representative 1966 and 2003 type diets. The 2003 strain had a higher BW and bursa of Fabricius weight relative to total BW compared with the RBC2 strain (P = 0.0001) when measured at 12 and 13 d of age, respectively. Total antibody response against SRBC did not differ between strains, nor were any differences observed in the IgM antibody levels either during a primary or secondary SRBC challenge. However, RBC2 poults had higher IgG levels (P = 0.02) than the 2003 strain at 7 d post secondary SRBC challenge. No significant differences were observed in the phytohemagglutinin phosphate-mediated toe-web lymphoblastic response. However, the 2003-strain turkeys seemed to have a better swelling response (P = 0.06) than the RBC2-strain turkeys when measured at 24 h post phytohemagglutinin phosphate injection. The modern turkeys also had higher mononuclear phagocytic system function, as measured by clearance of carbon particles from the bloodstream 5 min post intravenous injection of colloidal carbon (P = 0.02). These results indicate that selection over the years of turkeys for improved performance traits has had no adverse effects on most of the immune system indicators when examined prior to sexual maturity in the current study.

Key Words: genetic change • immunological change • diet • turkey

¹ The mention of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement of the products mentioned or criticism of similar products not mentioned.