Immunopathological effect of mercury on humoral immune response in chickens

Effect of mercury on Ranikhet disease vaccine-induced humoral immune respon se was investigated in 80 chickens for 12 weeks. The experimental chickens were divided into two groups of 40 each. Group 1 was kept as control while in group 2, mercuric chloride was given @ 125 ppm daily for 12 weeks in dri nking water. The humoral immune response was assessed by ELISA, haemaggluti nation inhibition test and beta- lymphocyte blastogenesis assay at 2-week-i nterval by taking blood samples of 5 birds from each group. The humoral imm une response including antibody titre against Ranikhet disease vaccine and beta- lymphocyte blastogenesis were found to be decreased significantly (P< 0.05) in mercury fed chickens as compared to controls indicating the immuno suppressive effect of mercury even at low doses.