Quantification of Turkey Immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgG in Serum and Secretions

The immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgG of the turkey were quantitated in individual serum samples as well as in pooled sera. The variability of Ig levels in normal, healthy birds was quite high: IgA: mean value 0.633 mg/ml (4.0 x-2.5 x); IgM: mean value 4.37 mg/ml (0.5 x-1.4 x) and IgG: mean value 8.92 mg/ml (0.6 x-1.7 x).

Immunoglobulin levels in egg-yolk, egg-white, bile and some intraocular tissues were quantitated as well. An interesting finding was, that the forementioned variability was by far not so high with respect to IgG levels in 20 egg-yolk samples: mean value 5.1 mg/ml (0.86 x-1.17 x). Though IgG and IgM could be detected in pooled turkey bile, IgA predominated in this secretion. In aqueous humor, iris tissue and vitreous body only IgG could be detected.