ABSTRACT
The relationship between immune function and disease risk may be greatly influenced by an organisms response to chronic stressors including those that are environmentally induced. Measurements of stress-induced immune alterations have previously been made in poultry species by utilizing hematological and immunological indices. To ascertain the effects of alternative layer housing management methods on humoral immune function, Hy-line Brown hens housed on range (n = 15) or in battery style cages (n = 20) were inoculated with a killed Newcastle′s vaccine. Blood serum samples were taken prior to injection and for three consecutive weeks following injection to assess antibody production. Antibody production was significantly higher in caged hens in comparison to free-range hens at pre-injection (1.69±0.70 vs. 0.069±0.069) (p<0.0001) and post-injection week one (2.26±0.77 vs. 0.145±0.25) (p<0.0001), week two (8.00±2.98 vs. 4.38±2.94) (p<0.001) and week 3 (9.24±2.56 vs. 6.69±3.86) (p<0.05). Additionally, caged hens exhibited a significantly higher level (p<0.0001) of total antibody production (5.30±0.23) throughout the immune challenge compared to free-range hens (2.82±0.26). Caged hens exhibited significantly higher H:L ratios (2.34±0.86 vs. 1.75±0.57) (p<0.05) during post-injection week 2 which correlated with the greatest difference in antibody production observed between the two groups of hens. This data indicated that environmental management methods utilized in layer hen production may influence both levels of humoral immune function and heterophil:lymphocyte ratios.
PDF References Citation
How to cite this article
D.V. Arbona, K.E. Anderson and J.B. Hoffman, 2011. A Comparison of Humoral Immune Function in Response to a Killed Newcastles Vaccine Challenge in Caged Vs. Free-range Hy-line Brown Layers. International Journal of Poultry Science, 10: 315-319.
DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2011.315.319
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2011.315.319
DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2011.315.319
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2011.315.319
REFERENCES
- Anderson, K.E., 2009. Overview of natural and organic egg production: Looking back to the future. J. Applied Poult. Res., 18: 348-354.
Direct Link - Appleby, M.C., 1998. Modification of laying hen cages to improve behavior. Poult. Sci., 77: 1828-1832.
CrossRefDirect Link - Curtis, S.E. and W.R. Stricklin, 1991. The importance of animal cognition in agricultural animal production systems: An overview. J. Anim. Sci., 69: 5001-5007.
Direct Link - Dohms, J.E. and A. Metz, 1991. Stress-mechanisms of immuno-suppression. Vet. Immunol. Immunophysiol., 30: 89-109.
PubMed - Dohms, J.E. and Y.M. Saif, 1984. Guest editorial: Criteria for evaluating immunosuppression. Avian Dis., 28: 305-310.
Direct Link - Erhard, M.H., H. Ozpinar, T. Bilal, I. Abas, C. Kutay, H. Eseceli and M. Stangassinger, 2000. The humoral immune response and the productivity of laying hens kept on ground or in cages. Altern. Lab. Anim., 28: 699-705.
PubMed - Gross, W.B. and H.S. Siegel, 1983. Evaluation of the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio as a measure of stress in chickens. Avian Dis., 27: 972-979.
CrossRefPubMedDirect Link - Maxwell, M.H. and G.W. Robertson, 1998. The avian heterophil leucocyte: A review. World's Poult. Sci. J., 54: 155-178.
CrossRefDirect Link - McEwen, B.S. and J.C. Wingfield, 2003. The concept of allostasis in biology and biomedicine. Horm. Behav., 43: 2-15.
PubMed - McFarlane, J.M. and S.E. Curtis, 1989. Multiple concurrent stressors in chicks. 3. Effects on plasma corticosterone and the heterophil: Lymphocyte ratio. Poult. Sci., 68: 522-527.
CrossRefPubMedDirect Link - Miller, D.B. and J.P. O'Callaghan, 2002. Neuroendocrine aspects of the response to stress. Metabolism, 51: 5-10.
CrossRefDirect Link - Riddell, C., C.F. Helmboldt, E.P. Singsen and L.D. Matterson, 1968. Bone pathology of birds affected with cage layer fatigue. Avian Dis., 12: 285-297.
PubMed - Rodenburg, T.B., F.A. Tuyttens, B. Sonck, K. De Reu, L. Herman and J. Zoons, 2005. Welfare, health and hygience of laying hens housed in furnished cages and in alternative housing systems. J. Applied Anim. Welfare Sci., 8: 211-226.
PubMed - Shini, S., 2003. Physiological responses of laying hens to the alternative housing systems. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 2: 357-360.
CrossRefDirect Link - Siegle, H.S., 1985. Immunological responses as indicators of stress. World Poult. Sci. J., 41: 36-44.
CrossRef - Tactacan, G.B., W. Guenter, N.J. Lewis, J.C. Rodriguez-Lecompte and J.D. House, 2009. Performance and welfare of laying hens in conventional and enriched cages. Poult. Sci., 88: 698-707.
Direct Link - Tauson, R., 1998. Health and production in improved cage designs. Poult. Sci., 77: 1820-1827.
Direct Link