Effect of frizzle gene on general immunocompetence in chicken

A total of 47 male birds (23 frizzle heterozygous and 24 normally feathered birds) were evaluated for general immunocompetence through antibody response to SRBCs, in-vivo cell mediated immune (CMI) response to PHA-P and serum lysozyme level. Total HA titre, 2-mercaptoethanol resistant (MER) and 2-mercaptoethanol sensitive (MES) antibody titre were estimated on day 0, 7, 10, 15 and 20 days post injection (dpi). Mean titre (log2) at 7, 10, 15 and 20 dpi were 12.61±0.28, 10.87±0.25, 9.26±0.28 and 8.39±0.31 in frizzle birds and 12.67±0.47, 10.63±0.34, 9.46±0.36 and 8.71±0.32 in normally feathered birds. Differences for HA titre at all stages were non-significant between feathering types. Similarly, no significant differences were observed for MER and MES titres at all the days of post immunization. Foot pad index, measure of CMI response was 0.59±0.067 mm in frizzle and 0.51±0.066 mm in normally feathered birds, whereas, the serum lysozyme concentration was 67.44±3.68 in frizzle and 75.14±3.06 in normally feathered birds. No significant differences for foot pad index as well as serum lysozyme levels were observed between the feathering types. These results suggested that frizzling has no negative effect on immunocompetence.