A study of Marek's disease in Japanese quails vaccinated with herpesvirus of turkeys

In a study of outbreaks of Marek's disease in quails, 220 adult quails vaccinated with herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) were examined pathologically and serologically for Marek's disease (MD). Forty-three of the 220 quails exhibited microscopic lesions similar to those of chickens with MD. MD-virus-specific antigen was found in feather tips of 44 of the 220 birds, and the HVT-specific antibody was found in sera of 56 of the 220 birds by agar gel precipitation. There was a positive correlation between the incidence of lymphomatous changes and the presence of MD-virus-specific antigen, and there was a negative correlation between the incidence of lymphomatous changes and the presence of antibody against HVT on a flock basis.

Infectious bursal disease virus infection in the quail-chicken hybrid

Hybrids produced from crossing Cornell K-strain white leghorn chickens and Line II Japanese quails were studied for susceptibility to infection with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Quail-chicken hybrids were infected successfully following inoculation with IBDV at 14, 21, or 52 days of age. In most cases, precipitating antibodies were detected in serum by 10 days postinoculation (PI). Although no clinical signs or gross lesions were evident in the bursa of Fabricius of hybrids, histologic changes in the bursa were detected upon microscopic examination using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Chickens were successfully infected also; they had gross and microscopic lesions in the bursa and produced precipitating antibodies. In addition, staining of bursal sections with low concentrations of peroxidase-conjugated concanavalin A revealed a rearrangement of a leukocyte cell type (probably macrophages) in infected chickens and hybrids. Japanese quails were refractory to infection; they showed no bursal changes and did not form precipitating antibodies.

Postnatal development of a demyelinating disease in avian spinal cord chimeras

Xenogeneic spinal cord chimeras were constructed by grafting fragments of quail neural primordium into chick embryos at 2 days of incubation. Hatched birds displayed normal motor behavior for about 5 to 7 weeks, whereupon they developed a neurological syndrome; in the grafted spinal cord the pathological signs of the disease were very similar to those of the active plaques of multiple sclerosis and of the lesions of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and neuritis, including Ia expression by brain capillary endothelia, rupture of the blood-brain barrier, leukocytic infiltration in the nervous tissue, and demyelination. In the animals at the most advanced stage of the disease an autoimmune attack occurred on the host's nervous system with the same histopathological signs.

Ontogeny of the third component of complement of Japanese quails

Ontogeny of quail complement was examined in terms of serum C3 level, cytolytic activity of total complement, functional activity of C3 via the classical pathway (CCP) and an alternative route (ACP), and the distribution of C3-bearing cells. In serum, C3 was detected from 7-day-old embryos by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Thereafter, its concentration increased rapidly and reached the adult level at 4-5 weeks of age. Total activities of serum complement via CCP and ACP, both of which were assayed by cell lysis, were detected first in 10-day-old embryos, and increased sharply after hatching, reaching the maximum level at 5 weeks of age. Deposition of C3 on the cell surface via CCP and ACP was also clearly demonstrated from 10-day-old embryos by haemagglutination and immunofluorescence techniques, respectively. By an immunofluorescence technique using anti-quail C3 monospecific serum, cells belonging to the reticuloendothelial system were indicated to serve major sites for the synthesis of C3 during ontogenesis.

Molecular characterization of fetal antigens on red blood cells of chickens, Japanese quail, and quail-chicken hybrids

The molecular nature of chicken fetal antigen (CFA) and quail fetal antigen (QFA) was studied on embryonic red blood cells (RBCs) of the chicken, the Japanese quail, and the quail-chicken hybrid. Specific immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled membrane proteins followed by electrophoretic separation and autoradiography were used to identify the protein molecules carrying these fetal antigens. CFA was found on molecules of 24, 50, 88, 99, 130, 170, and 220 kd (kilodaltons) in the chicken and hybrid and on molecules of 24, 50, 99, and 170 kd in the Japanese quail. Similarly, quail fetal antigen was associated with 24-, 50-, 99-, and 170-kd molecules in the quail and hybrid and was not detected in the chicken. Partial proteolytic digestion of the 50- and 170-kd molecules isolated from RBCs of all sources showed remarkably similar peptide patterns. Likewise, two-dimensional separation of the CFA-positive and QFA-positive 50-kd molecules from quail RBCs revealed a similar pattern of at least nine isomorphic variants. Sequential depletions of quail embryonic RBC extracts with either anti-CFA or anti-QFA followed by immune precipitation with the reciprocal antiserum suggested that most of the cell surface proteins carrying QFA also have CFA on the same molecules. It is suggested that specific glycosylations of a variety of distinct molecular weight proteins determines the antigenic phenotype characterized as "fetal antigens."

Agglutinin responses to Salmonella pullorum in Japanese quail selected for plasma cholesterol response to adrenocorticotropin and a model describing the dynamics of the response

Japanese quail from the S16 generation of lines selected for high (HR) and low (LR) plasma cholesterol response to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), and the randombred control line (C) from which the selected lines had been derived, were immunized with a heat-killed Salmonella pullorum antigen. Plasma from blood samples taken at 0,5,8, and 12 days postimmunization was titered for total agglutinin levels. A quadratic equation and its first derivative, calculated for each bird, produced mean values by line for maximum titers, mean day of maximum titer, and rate of titer decline. Results indicated that the LR line had significantly lower titers than the HR or C lines but that the HR line reached maximum titer later than the LR line. The rate of titer decline was fastest in the C line.

Immunological traits in generations 7 to 12 of two lines of Japanese quail selected for high or low antibody response to Newcastle disease virus

Several immunological traits were compared in lines of Japanese quail selected for high and low secondary immune responses to anti-Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The high line of quail, selected for high ability to produce antibodies, was more responsive in both their primary response to NDV antigen used in the selection as well as to other antigens used in selection process including NDV (Ishi strain), tissue culture-derived Newcastle disease (TCND strain), NDV strain B1, influenza virus, sheep erythrocytes, and Salmonella pullorum than the low line, selected for low ability to produce antibody titers. Mitogenic response to phytohemagglutinin mitogen in the blood lymphocytes from high line quail was more reactive than those from low line quail. Significant line differences were also found in the number of spontaneous rosette cells produced by blood lymphocytes with both fowl and rabbit erythrocytes; the number in the high line exceeded those in the low line.

In vivo and in vitro development of somatostatin-like-immunoreactivity in the peripheral nervous system of quail embryos

The appearance and development of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) in the peripheral nervous system of quail embryos were studied using radioimmunoanalysis and immunocytochemistry. In vivo, no SLI is observed in neural crest cells before or during migration. SLI appears between days 3 and 4 of incubation in sympathetic ganglia, immediately following ganglion formation, and between days 4 and 5 of incubation in the adrenal gland, soon after the adrenal gland primordium first appears. The development of SLI in the adrenal gland differs from that in the sympathetic ganglia. While in the former the amount of SLI and the number of SLI-containing cells increase as the embryo ages, in the sympathetic ganglia the amount of SLI and the percentage of SLI-containing cells decrease. When migrating neural crest cells are obtained from the sclerotomal part of 3-day embryos and grown in culture, they first display SLI after 48 hr, and the amount of SLI increases thereafter. When the sympathoadrenal precursors are removed at 4 days of incubation and grown in vitro, SLI appears after 24 hr in culture and increases during the next few days. Our results demonstrate that SLI is present very early in the quail embryo and that its appearance parallels the differentiation of neural crest cells into autonomic sympathetic ganglionic cells. We also show that the differentiation of neural crest into SLI-containing cells can be reproduced in culture, thus permitting the study of peptide production and expression in vitro.

Selective breeding for high and low antibody responses to inactivated Newcastle disease virus in Japanese quails

Two lines of Japanese quail were divergently selected for high and low antibody responses after being twice injected at 4 and 6 weeks of age with inactivated Newcastle disease virus antigen. After seven generations of selection, the serum antibody level in the high line was 24% greater than the level in the unselected control lines, whereas the low line antibody level was approximately 37% less than that in the control line. The estimated heritability (H2S + D) was approximately .12 +/- .50. The realized h2, calculated from coefficient of regression formula on seven generations (G3 to G9 ), was .07.

Avian peritoneal exudate cells: a comparison of stimulation protocols

The influence of different stimulation protocols on the induction of peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) and adherent cells, and on the percentage of different adherent cell types was examined in the chicken and Japanese quail. The results suggest that different protocols may be selected to maximize isolation of specific PEC populations for immunological studies. In the chicken, starch, peptone, glycogen, and Sephadex G-40 were all equally effective and superior to saline in generating PECs. While a single injection of Sephadex produced the highest yield of adherent cells with a maximum percentage of macrophages, repeated injections of Sephadex led to dramatic increases in non-adherent PECs (lymphocytes). In contrast, a single injection of starch was optimum for generating non-macrophage adherent cells (primarily heterophils). Since responses of the Japanese quail to stimulation with starch and saline were similar to those observed for the chicken, it is suggested that these protocols may be generally applicable for use with avian species.

Grouping in Japanese quail 2. Suppression of humoral immunity

Four-week-old Japanese quail were placed in either stable (isolate) or unstable (resident-visitor) groupings in this study. The visitor quail were transferred daily to cages containing unfamiliar residents, and the isolate quail were handled daily. The immune responsiveness to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), as indicated by production of hemagglutinins of the visitors and residents, was significantly less than that of the isolates, and the visitors were found to have less antibody than the residents. In subsequent experiments adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was used to compare its effect on immune responsiveness to that caused by grouping. The ACTH caused a suppression in humoral immune response, but only 8 IU ACTH/100 g body weight consistently suppressed antibody levels, indicating that the quail immune system is moderately resistant to this hormone. At the end of the experimental periods the bursa of Fabricius, spleen, and adrenal glands were removed. The relative weights of the organs suggested that grouping and ACTH did not induce the classical symptoms of physiological stress. However, stress was not eliminated as a possible cause of the immunosuppressive effects of grouping and ACTH found in this study, because there was significant body weight loss in unstable groupings and in ACTH-treated birds.

Isolation and identification of the third component of complement of Japanese quails

The identification of the third component of complement (C3) of Japanese quails was attempted by using rabbit antiserum prepared against quail serum-treated zymosan (ZX) as an initial reagent. This antiserum (anti-ZX) had agglutinating activity on rabbit erythrocytes reacted with quail antibody and quail complement (EACq) but not on EAq, and developed two precipitin lines against quail serum at beta- and gamma-regions in crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Subsequently, monospecific antisera to each of these precipitin lines were prepared in rabbits, and quail serum proteins reactive with these antisera were purified by salt precipitation followed by Sephadex gel filtration and DEAE cellulose column chromatography. One protein with a m.w. of 184,000 (184K) resembled mammalian C3 in that: 1) monospecific antiserum (anti-184K protein serum) agglutinated EACq but not EAq; 2) treatment of fresh quail serum with either inulin or zymosan resulted in the conversion of the precipitin line developed against 184K protein from gamma to beta in crossed immunoelectrophoresis; 3) the 184K protein was shown to consist of two polypeptide chains of 110K and 73K linked by disulfide bonds. Furthermore, the 184K protein in serum was cleaved through the incubation with inulin to 174K and 140K proteins that might correspond to C3b and C3c of human complement; 4) the 184K protein bound to zymosan was eluted with hydrazine or methylamine but not with Nonidet P-40, indicating that 184K protein binds to zymosan by a covalent bond but not by a hydrophobic one; and 5) by treatment of fresh quail serum with methylamine, complement reactivity was reduced, although its activity was restored by the addition of purified 184K protein. These results suggest the 184K protein is the quail's equivalent to mammalian C3. When quail serum was reacted with cells that had complement-activating capacity, quail C3 deposited on their membrane as in mammalians; however, no conversion of quail C3 was noted by the reaction with CVF. Antibody to quail C3 failed to cross-react with that in mammals.

Effector mechanisms against Rous sarcomas in quail

The inhibitory effect on tumor growth of thymus-derived cells in the avian virus system has been demonstrated by several investigators. Here we report two kinds of experiments performed to test the role of various potential effector cells in the immune response against Rous sarcomas. In vivo experiments in Japanese quail using the antimacrophage agent silica implicate the macrophage as a further mechanism in the defense against Rous sarcoma virus-induced tumors. Induction of a nonspecific inflammation at the site of tumor development led to reduced tumor growth.

Surface marker for hemopoietic and endothelial cell lineages in quail that is defined by a monoclonal antibody

A mouse monoclonal antibody raised in response to quail immunoglobulin mu chain was found to exhibit a broad reactivity towards hemopoietic and endothelial cells in the quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Indirect immunofluorescence assays were performed at several stages of embryonic development and until 3 weeks after hatching, on either isolated cells or tissue sections. They revealed that the defined surface marker, referred to as MB1, (i) is expressed early on both intra- and extraembryonic hemopoietic stem cells and is transmitted to the whole progeny of these precursors, with the exception of mature erythrocytes, and (ii) is a constant feature of the endothelial cell surface throughout ontogenesis and adult life. In addition, this epitope is included in several soluble plasma components. MB1 expression was not detected in chicken tissues, and this characteristic was used to confirm its lineage restriction in quail-chicken chimeras. We stress the value of this species- and lineage-specific marker in study of the development of the hemopoietic and endothelial cell families, with special reference to their possible early common embryonic origin.

Quail fetal antigen (QFA): identification and comparison with chicken fetal antigen

Quail fetal antigen (QFA), an analogous hematopoietic antigen to chicken fetal antigen (CFA), was identified and shown to be a developmental antigen on the blood cells of Japanese quail and other avian species. Rabbit antiserum against 14-day embryonic quail red blood cells (RBCs) was specifically adsorbed to achieve fetal specificity and to eliminate any cross reactivity with the CFA system. Complement-mediated microcytotoxicity and hemagglutination assays were used to detect the presence of QFA on hematopoietic cells. QFA was found on 100% of the peripheral RBCs from 10-day quail embryos but incidence of the antigen gradually declined with increasing development. Complete loss of QFA from RBCs occurred just prior to sexual maturation between 31 and 42 days of age. No qualitative differences in erythroid expression of QFA were observed during development; however, RBCs from both embryonic duck and interspecific quail- chicken hybrids reacted with R-anti QFA. Like CFA, quail fetal antigen was associated with lymphocytes, particularly those from primary lymphoid organs. Similarities in the developmentally controlled tissue distribution of QFA and CFA suggest that developmental hematopoietic antigens are a common feature of avian species and are useful cell surface markers for studies of development and differentiation.

An immunological study of the diverse forms of vitellogenin identified in quail plasma

Quail vitellogenins (which exist in three different native forms designated Vg alpha, Vg beta and Vg gamma) can be separated into two fractions by DEAE-cellulose chromatography: peak III (containing Vg alpha, Vg beta, and Vg gamma) and peak IV (containing Vg alpha and Vg beta). In the present study, antibodies were prepared against peak III and peak IV vitellogenin fractions, which were then compared with each other and with vitellogenin-containing plasma by immunodiffusion, rocket immunoelectrophoresis, and two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. Peak III and peak IV vitellogenin fractions behaved similarly on immunodiffusion and gave an apparently homogeneous precipitin band. However, rocket immunoelectrophoresis revealed at least three or four antigenic determinants in peak III or peak IV vitellogenin fractions. Two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis showed that peak III vitellogenin fractions contained an antigenic determinant not present in peak IV vitellogenin. In addition, some constituents within any vitellogenin-containing sample had antigenic determinants in common, as revealed by the continuity of certain precipitin peaks, indicating a possible structural relatedness between Vg alpha, beta, and/or gamma. Plasma from untreated male quail had an antigenic determinant in common with all vitellogenin-containing plasma samples.

Humoral immunity in Japanese quail following surgical bursectomy at various ages

Four separate experiments were conducted to determine the effects of surgical bursectomy (BSX) at periodic intervals on subsequent antibody production in Japanese quail. At 0, 1, 3, 7, and 28 days of age, BSX resulted in graduated increments in humoral immune responsiveness. Quail BSX at 0 and 1 day of age exhibited significantly reduced primary hemagglutinin responses, as well as reduced mercaptoethanol resistant (IgG) antibody levels. The production of mercaptoethanol sensitive antibody (IgM) levels were affected to a lesser degree in BSX quail than in controls. At 7 and 28 days of age, BSX resulted in no significant effects. At 3 days of age, BSX resulted in an intermediate effect with minimal reduction in antibody levels. Secondary antibody responses were reduced to a lesser extent than the primary responses. At 0 day, BSX reduced hemagglutinin and mercaptoethanol sensitive antibody levels during the early stages of the secondary responses. At other times, however, BSX did not affect secondary antibody responses.

Hemagglutinin responses in Japanese quail treated with exogenous adrenocorticotrophin

Injections of exogenous ACTH in chickens are known to cause immunosuppression provided that ACTH administration is properly timed with respect to immunization. In random-bred Japanese quail, injections of ACTH at various times both before and after immunization with erythrocyte antigens did not significantly alter antibody responses. This finding was consistent whether the ACTH was administered over a 4 hr or a 6 day period, and whether sheep or chukar erythrocytes were used as the antigen.

Detection of natural killer cells in Japanese quails

Spleen cells of normal quails exhibited cytotoxicity on normal embryo cells as well as on virus- and chemically transformed cells. Spleen cells responsible for the destruction of target cells were shown to be non-adherent lymphoid cells which lack surface immunoglobulin and are resistant to the treatment with anti-thymocyte serum and complement. Spleen cells of quails which were injected with chicken amniotic fluid (ChAmF) showed no cytotoxic activity. Furthermore, the addition of ChAmF-treated spleen cells abolished the cytotoxic activity of untreated spleen cells. These results indicated the presence of a spleen-cell population in normal quails compatible with mammalian natural killer (NK) cells and the induction of suppressor cells directed to the NK cells by administration of ChAmF.

Developmental changes in the presence of specific chicken fetal-leukemic antigen determinants in the chicken, Japanese quail, and the interspecific hybrid

The pattern and timing of expression of chicken fetal-leukemic antigen (CFA) on peripheral red blood cells (RBCs) is reported for specific periods of postembryonic development in chickens, Japanese quail, and quail-chicken hybrids. Individual CFA determinants were lost from the peripheral RBCs of chickens and hybrids at specific times of development. The sequential pattern of phasing in these sources suggests that at least some of the CFA determinants may be expressed independently on the cell surface. In addition, the time of phasing for each determinant may represent a developmentally-controlled change in the internal or external environment of the differentiating erythrocyte. In contrast, three CFA determinants appeared to be lost simultaneously, or over a short period of time, from the RBCs of Japanese quail. This phasing event appears to occur approximately one week prior to the onset of egg production. In the interspecific hybrid, the same three CFA determinants appeared to be independent with regard to the periods in which they were expressed on peripheral RBCs.

Expression of an onco-developmental antegen among avian species

Rabbit antisera directed against an onco-developmental antigen on chicken red blood cells have been serologically dissected through specific adsorptions. It is now possible to detect 13 antigenic determinants with the fractionated antisera. The onco-developmental antigen referred to as chicken fetal-leukemic antigen (CFA) is fetal-specific in the white Leghorn chicken, being present on the embryonic but not adult peripheral red blood cells of non-being present on the embryonic but not adult peripheral red blood cells of non-leukemic birds. However, one or more of the onco-developmental antigenic determinants have been detected on adult peripheral red blood cells of non-Gallus avian species, as well as on red blood cells from two adult chicken varieties. For phylogenetic purposes, red blood cells from avian species were characterized for their combinations of CFA determinants. Comparisons among species revealed specific patterns of antigenic expression within phylogenetic groups. Several CFA determinants were restricted in their occurrence to species within a single family, and one determinant was found in all cases where CFA was expressed. The distribution of CFA determinants was used to determine immunological distances among four Galliform species. These distances agreed with the immunological relationships established using different serological markers.