Comparison of humoral immune response and plasma protein concentrations in Western Azerbaijan native and Arian high-productive fowls

In the current study, the humoral immune responses (the titers of total antibody, immunoglobulin Y and immunoglobulin M) and plasma protein concentrations (total protein, albumin, globulin and the ratio of albumin to globulin) measured at 22 and 50 weeks of age on 49 high-productive Arian broiler line and 79 native fowls were compared. All traits were analyzed with a three-way ANOVA model with interactions, fitting two strains (Arian and native), two sexes (male and female) and two different ages (22 and 50 weeks of age). Total antibody titer and immunoglobulin Y titer in native strain, females and the birds at age of 22 weeks were significantly higher than the Arian strain, males and birds at age of 50 weeks, respectively. Total plasma protein, albumin and globulin concentrations in Arian strain and age of 50 weeks were higher than native strain and age of 22 weeks, respectively. In both strains, the concentrations of albumin were higher in hens. Except for the age effect, the ratio of albumin to globulin in native strain and in females was higher than Arian strain and males, respectively. This ratio was the lowest in Arian roosters. For the interaction among main effects, the lowest immune responses of total antibodies and immunoglobulin Y was observed for Arian roosters, age of 50 weeks for both strains and age of 50 weeks of both sexes. For these effects, no similar pattern was observed for the immunoglobulin M. In general, the results of the present study indicated that the male and female native birds have higher humoral immune responses comparing to Arian roosters, when they are kept under the same condition. Therefore, it is possible to produce more resistant chickens through mating native rooster with Arian hens.