The Effect of Starvation on the Immune Response of Chickens

Abstract

SUMMARY The effect of food and water deprivation on the number of antibody-producing spleen cells and on the rate of clearance of bacteria by the reticuloendothelial system was studied in 5-week-old cross-bred (White Leghorn X Rhode Island Red) chickens. Fortyeight hours of deprivation of food and water resulted in decreased hemagglutinating antibody titer and decreased antibody-producing cells in the spleens of chickens immunized with sheep red blood cells. Deprivation of food and water also slowed bacteria clearance rate from the circulation.