Ontogeny of antibody response to Brucella abortus in turkeys

No differences were detected between large White Nicholas and small White Hybrid turkeys in antibody (AB) titers in birds vaccinated with Brucella abortus. Maximal AB titers occurred by 6 weeks of age and remained high throughout life. B. abortus elicits an AB response when injected at day of hatch while bursectomy at day of hatch and 2 days of age significantly depressed this response. There was an apparent immunological maturation process occurring to B. abortus in the bursa of Fabricius which contained for approximately 6 weeks.