TRANSFER OF MATERNAL ANTIROTAVIRUS IGG TO THE MUCOSAL SURFACES AND BILE OF TURKEY POULTS

Turkey poults from hens vaccinated against avian group A rotavirus wer e examined to study the transfer of maternally derived anti-rotavirus IgG (rIgG) to the mucosal surfaces (intestinal and tracheal), serum, y olk, and bile. During the first week of life, maternal rIgG titers in intestinal mucosal washings were 200-to-500-fold less than rIgG titers in the circulation, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assa y (ELISA). The intestinal titers in 10- and 13-day-old poults were neg ligible. A moderate linear correlation (r = 0.6) was present between r IgG titer in the blood circulation and the intestines, with a serum cu toff level of 10,000 ELISA units. Maternal rIgG was detected in trache al washings only during the first 3 days of life. Biliary rIgG titers were fourfold higher than intestinal titers at day of hatch but had de clined considerably in 1-day-old poults. Yolk had relatively high rIgG titers at hatching.Maternal rIgG titer in the small intestine was det ermined after in situ ligation of the individual segments; it was high est in the duodenum, followed by the ileum and jejunum. There was evid ence that rIgG in the intenstine was transferred from the blood and no t directly from the yolk sac. Bidirectional movement of rIgG between c irculation and intestine was also detected. Maternal rIgG was not dete cted in the intestinal washings of progeny from hens naturally infecte d with rotavirus.