The transmission of passive immunity to Escherichia coli from mother to young in the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus).

Abstract

The serum antibody responses of laying hens that had received a single intravenous injection of dead E. coli bacteria, have been compared with antibody levels in normal birds. The passage of immune antibodies into the yolk and into the sera of the hatched chicks has been observed and no substantial difference was found between progeny of a number of inoculated and control birds. Some evidence is presented which suggests that a selective concentration of 7Sγ(2)-globulin occurs during the process of yolk formation.