A note on the naked neck gene and disease resistance in poultry

Data are presented on the incidence of certain pathologies in experimental populations of poultry where heterozygotic naked neck (Nana) birds were com pared to their normal sibs (nana) or commercial populations at the Institut e of Animal Science. The lowest incidence of the pathologies (cloacal, cyst s, ascites and prolapses, Marek's disease, coccidiosis, osteodystrophies an d salmonelosis) corresponded to naked neck birds. These results together wi th direct (challege) and indicrect immunity tests, carried out in other stu dies as well as those reported in the literature suggest a greater resisten ce associated with the Na gene explained by a better thermoregulation capac ity giving lower immunosuppression as well as by less feathers allowing gre ater protein economy enabling the activation of the antibody system.