Human antibodies against antigens of the sparrow, blackbird, weaver finch, canary, budgerigar, pigeon and hen using the indirect immunofluorescent technique.

Detection of antibodies against various birds, particularly against exotic birds, can be facilitated using the sensitive immunofluorescent technique on avian fixed-intestine cryostat sections. Different fluorescent patterns corresponding to different human anti-avian antibodies have been observed. Sixty of 100 human sera containing antibodies against one avian species, predominantly pigeon, reacted also with all other avian species intestines; the remaining forty were more specific and reacted with a few species only. Cross reactions with antigens in song bird intestines indicated the presence of a broad spectrum of antibodies in patients with bird fancier's lung.