The effect of starvation on antibody production of chicks.

The effect of 24 and 48 hours of food and water deprivation on ascorbic acid, liver, leukocyte counts and internal lymphoid organ weights of crossbred chicks was examined. Starvation caused an increase in plasma ascorbic acid level, a significant decrease in leucocyte count in peripheral blood, significant loss in body weight and a profound loss in liver, bursa of fabricius, spleen and thymus weights. Deprived chicks were I.V. injected with Escherichia coli dead bacteria and sheep red blood cells at different times before and after onset of deprivation. Blood samples were taken 3, 6, and 12 days thereafter. A lower antibody titer was found on the 6th day post vaccination in the groups where deprivation started on the day before or on the day of vaccination.