The Effect of Different Routes of Antigen Administration on the Humoral Immune Response of the Chick

The effects of three routes of antigen administration, intravenous, intraperitoneal, and intramuscular, were compared in New Hampshire chicks. Chicks were injected with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) or Brucella abortus (BA) at 29 or 34 days of age. Agglutinin response was determined on Days 3, 5, 7, and 12 postimmunization. Route of injection affected total antibody titers to SRBC significantly at all stages of the response. Sex and age effects were not significant. Brucella abortus antibody titers were significantly influenced by age but not by sex and route.