Effect of injection site on cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response to phytohemagglutinin

Cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) is frequently used as a measure of cell-mediated immune response in chickens. Several anatomical sites have been used to measure this response. No correlation between response level at different sites, however, has been reported. This study compares responses to PHA by using two different injection sites (wing web and interdigital skin of the foot) in White Leghorn chickens. Response at each individual site was comparable whether the bird received a PHA injection at that site alone or at both sites. Correlations between responses at the two sites were not different from zero [-.1733 (P = .44)]. These data indicate that caution must be exercised in comparing cell-mediated immune responses when different PHA injection sites have been used to assess response.