MONOCLONAL AND POLYCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO CHICKEN IMMUNOGLOBULIN ISOTYPES SPECIFICALLY DETECT TURKEY IMMUNOGLOBULIN ISOTYPES

Turkey immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes IgG and IgM were isolated from blo od and IgA was isolated from bile. Isolation was accomplished by gel f iltration of the ammonium sulphate cut on Sephacryl S-200. Using immun oelectrophoresis and indirect ELISA, the cross-reactivity between anti bodies, of monoclonal and polyclonal origin, specific for the Ig isoty pes of chicken, and the purified turkey Ig isotypes was evaluated. Com mercially available polyclonal antibodies, anti-chicken/IgA (alpha-cha in specific, affinity purified), anti-chicken/IgG (Fc-fragment specifi c) and anti-chicken/IgM (mu-chain specific) showed an interspecies cro ss-reactivity with the corresponding turkey Ig isotypes. The monoclona l antibody (MAb) AV-G3 specifically detected turkey IgG, whereas MAb M 1 reacted exclusively with turkey IgM. This panel of anti-immunoglobul ins represents a useful tool for examining the humoral immune response s of turkeys. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.