Hemolytic complement activity in broiler chickens and turkeys

Broiler chickens and turkeys were tested for hemolytic complement (C) activity at 7 or 14 day intervals beginning at one day of age and ending at 42 days of age. The mean titers for chickens on days 1, 14, 28, and 42 were 1:14, 1:14, 1:22, and 1:33, respectively. The mean C titers for turkeys on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 42 were 1:4, 1:6, 1:9, 1:10, 1:19, and 1:25, respectively. Birds were segregated as to sex so hemolytic activities could be compared. There were no significant differences between sexes in C titers in broiler chickens at any of the ages tested. This was also true of turkeys, except at 42 days of age when the C titer of the hens was significantly higher than the toms. Complement titers increased with age in both broiler chickens and turkeys.