Emily Carter
Bursectomy refers to the surgical removal of the bursa of Fabricius, a chestnut-sized organ located in the chicken's body. This procedure can be performed on late-stage embryos, newly hatched chicks, or chickens of various ages. Bursectomy has been observed to cause a significant reduction in circulating B lymphocytes, leading to a decreased ability to produce specific antibodies in response to antigenic challenges. The removal of the bursa of Fabricius also results in a depletion of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the serum and bile of bursectomized chickens. Additionally, studies have explored the effects of bursectomy on antibody production, resistance to respiratory challenges, and the development of lymphomatosis in chickens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The surgical removal of the bursa of Fabricius from chickens |
| Purpose | To study the effects on the chicken's immune system and antibody production |
| Effects | - Marked reduction in circulating B lymphocytes |
| - Inability to produce specific antibodies in response to antigenic challenges | |
| - Depletion of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in serum and bile | |
| - Development of peripheral small lymphocytes | |
| - Normal graft versus host reactions | |
| Timing | Performed on late-stage embryos, neonates, or 1-day-old chicks |
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What You'll Learn
Removal of the bursa of Fabricius
The bursa of Fabricius is a primary lymphoid organ found only in birds, such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, grouse, partridges, and quails. It is a chestnut-sized, sac-like organ located dorsal to the rectum, anterior to the sacrum, and communicating with the posterior portion of the cloaca by a short duct. The bursa is named after Hieronymus Fabricius, who described it in 1621.
The bursa is critical for the normal development of B lymphocytes, which are responsible for antibody production. It provides a unique microenvironment for the proliferation and differentiation of B cells. In birds, the bursa is the primary site of B cell lymphopoiesis, and avian B cell lymphopoiesis has characteristics that distinguish it from pathways of B cell development in human or rodent models.
The function of the bursa of Fabricius remained unknown until the 1950s when Bruce Glick and Timothy Chang, graduate students at Ohio State University, reported that the removal of the bursa from newly hatched chickens subsequently impaired antibody production in adulthood. This discovery was made when Glick and Chang obtained chickens that had been bursectomized and observed that they failed to produce antibodies in response to an immunization with Staphylococcus bacteria.
Bursectomy of late-stage embryos or neonate chicks causes a marked reduction in the number of circulating B lymphocytes and impairs their ability to produce specific antibodies in response to antigenic challenges. This demonstrates the essential role of the bursa in the proliferation and differentiation of B cells.
In summary, the removal of the bursa of Fabricius in chickens through bursectomy results in a significant decrease in B lymphocytes and impairs the bird's ability to produce antibodies, demonstrating the critical role of the bursa in the immune system.
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Inability to produce antibodies
A bursectomy is a surgical procedure performed on the bursa, a chestnut-sized, sac-like organ located dorsal to the rectum and anterior to the sacrum in chickens. This procedure can be performed on late-stage embryos, neonate chicks, or adult chickens.
The bursa provides a unique microenvironment essential for the proliferation and differentiation of B cells, which are crucial for the chicken's immune response. When a chicken undergoes a bursectomy, it experiences a marked reduction in the number of circulating B lymphocytes.
This reduction in B lymphocytes leads to an inability to produce specific antibodies in response to antigenic challenges. In other words, bursectomized chickens are unable to mount an adequate immune response, even when they produce normal levels of immunoglobulins (Ig) like IgM, IgG, and IgA. This phenomenon is known as agammaglobulinemia, which specifically refers to a severe B-cell decrease in the periphery.
For example, in a study by Eerola et al. (1984), chickens that underwent a bursectomy at 60 hours of incubation were immunized at 6, 7, 8, and 9 weeks of age with various antigens. Despite producing detectable levels of serum immunoglobulins, these bursectomized chickens failed to respond to the immunization by producing specific antibodies. They also lacked natural antibodies and autoantibodies, further highlighting their compromised immune capacity.
The inability to produce specific antibodies is a critical consequence of bursectomy, as it renders the chicken more susceptible to infections and diseases. This procedure is often used in scientific research to study the immune system and the development of antibodies in chickens. However, it is important to note that the functional failure of B lymphocytes in bursectomized chickens cannot be corrected by better antigenic presentation.
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B-cell decrease
Bursectomy is a surgical procedure performed on chick embryos or neonates. It involves the removal of the bursa of Fabricius, a chestnut-sized, sac-like organ located dorsal to the rectum and anterior to the sacrum in chickens. The bursa is connected to the posterior portion of the cloaca by a short duct.
The bursa of Fabricius is crucial for B-cell development in birds. It is the primary lymphoid organ for B-cell growth and differentiation, providing a unique microenvironment essential for B-cell proliferation. B-cells are a type of white blood cell that play a vital role in the immune system's antibody response. They are also known as bursal lymphocytes or B lymphocytes.
Performing a bursectomy on late-stage embryos or neonate chicks results in a significant reduction in circulating B lymphocytes and impairs the bird's ability to produce specific antibodies in response to antigenic challenges. This procedure essentially induces agammaglobulinemia and a severe B-cell decrease in the periphery. For example, in a study by Yasuda et al. (1998), bursectomized chickens had serum concentrations of IgM and IgG of 0.2 and 0.01 mg/ml, respectively, 11 weeks after hatching.
Additionally, Cooper et al. (1966) found that chickens that underwent both irradiation at hatching and total bursectomy exhibited normal peripheral small lymphocyte development, graft rejection, and graft-versus-host reactions. This suggests that while B-cell levels decrease, other immune functions remain intact.
The bursa of Fabricius is formed during embryonic development, with pre-bursal B-cells from the dorsal mesenchyme, embryonic spleen, and bone marrow colonizing it between embryonic day (E)8 and E14. During this period, the bursa undergoes rapid B-cell proliferation, and the number of bursal B-cells increases substantially, especially at E17-E18, indicating a critical stage for B-cell development.
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Development of peripheral small lymphocytes
Bursectomy is a surgical procedure performed on the bursa, a chestnut-sized, sac-like organ located dorsal to the rectum and anterior to the sacrum in chickens. The procedure can be performed on late-stage embryos, neonate chicks, or adult chickens.
Now, regarding the development of peripheral small lymphocytes in bursectomized chickens, here is some relevant information:
The bursa of Fabricius plays a crucial role in the development and maturation of B lymphocytes in chickens. Bursectomy, the surgical removal of the bursa, can have a significant impact on the immune system of chickens, leading to a marked reduction in circulating B lymphocytes and an inability to produce specific antibodies in response to antigenic challenges.
Cooper et al. (1966) found that chickens that underwent both irradiation at hatching and total bursectomy were still able to develop peripheral small lymphocytes normally. This suggests that even with the removal of the bursa, other factors, such as irradiation, may influence the development of these lymphocytes.
Studies have shown that bursectomized chickens exhibit selective inhibition of IgM or IgG immunoglobulin synthesis, resulting in altered immunoelectrophoretic patterns of immunoglobulins. Lymphocyte transformation induced by anti-IgM serum was inhibited in chickens lacking IgM or IgG. Despite a decreased humoral antibody response, spleen lymphocytes from bursectomized chickens with normal immunoglobulin patterns exhibited transformation induced by anti-globulin serum.
Furthermore, experiments using antibodies against Igα and Ig-µ in bursectomized chickens indicated that IgM-forming cells are the direct precursors for IgY- and IgA-forming cells, with a genetic switchover mechanism during ontogeny. This suggests that the development of peripheral small lymphocytes in bursectomized chickens may involve alternative pathways for lymphocyte maturation and immunoglobulin synthesis.
In summary, while bursectomy can disrupt the normal development of B lymphocytes in chickens, certain factors or alternative pathways may compensate for this disruption, allowing for the development of peripheral small lymphocytes. However, the overall immune competence of bursectomized chickens is still impaired, affecting their ability to produce specific antibodies.
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Resistance to Eimeria infections
Bursectomy is a surgical procedure performed on the bursa of Fabricius, a chestnut-sized, sac-like organ located dorsal to the rectum in chickens. The procedure causes a significant reduction in circulating B lymphocytes and impairs the chicken's ability to produce specific antibodies in response to antigenic challenges.
Now, onto the topic of resistance to Eimeria infections in bursectomized chickens:
Eimeria infections in chickens, also known as coccidiosis, pose a significant threat to the poultry industry. It is an intestinal disease caused by Eimeria protozoan parasites, which spread when birds consume contaminated food or water. The oocysts, or transmission stage of the parasite, have resilient multilayered walls that can survive standard disinfectants, allowing them to remain infectious for extended periods.
Studies have investigated the impact of bursectomy on the chicken's resistance to Eimeria infections:
- Bursectomy performed on late-stage embryos or neonate chicks resulted in a higher susceptibility to Eimeria infections, with increased oocyst production during primary infections.
- Combined bursectomy and whole-body irradiation did not affect immunity to re-infection with Eimeria spp.
- Bursectomized chickens showed increased oocyst production during primary infections with E. maxima or E. acervulina, and the clinical effects of E. maxima infection were more pronounced.
- Chemical bursectomy, achieved through embryonic testosterone treatment, can inhibit the formation of dendro-epithelial tissue.
- Ionophores, such as salinomycin and monensin, have emerged as effective tools to combat coccidiosis by disrupting ion transport in the parasite's life cycle and slowing the development of resistance.
- Antibody production in bursectomized chickens can be enhanced through repeated injections of antigens.
- Germ-free chickens exhibited resistance to E. tenella infection, suggesting the role of gut microbiota in infection susceptibility.
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Frequently asked questions
Bursectomy is the surgical removal of the bursa of Fabricius, a chestnut-sized, sac-like organ located dorsal to the rectum, anterior to the sacrum.
Bursectomy of late-stage embryos or neonate chicks causes a reduction in circulating B lymphocytes and an inability to produce specific antibodies in response to antigenic challenges. This results in a depletion of immunoglobulin A (IgA) from serum and bile.
Bursectomy is performed on chickens to study the effects of the removal of the bursa of Fabricius on antibody production, immunity, and disease resistance.
Some potential risks and side effects of bursectomy in chickens include agammaglobulinemia, B-cell decrease, and an increased susceptibility to certain infections or diseases.
