Studies on the serological and immunological response of chickens to endotoxin and endotoxoid.

Chicks two, three and four weeks of age respond well serologically to endotoxin given intravenously, with the older chicks giving a better response. The induced immunity against live organism challenge produced by homologous endotoxin from Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium is specific between these two organisms, however, cross-immunity occurs between E. coli 045 and E. coli 0109 and between Salmonella enteritidis and S. typhimcrium and further, endotoxins from different organisms may be combined to provide immunity against the homologous organisms. Endotoxoid administered to chicks rendered them more susceptible to live organism challenge for five days, following which some immunity developed.