Research Note: Resistance of Chickens to an Outbreak of Necrotic Enteritis as Influenced by Major Histocompatibility Genotype and Background Genome

Abstract

An outbreak of necrotic enteritis occurred in chickens that were B13B13 or B21B21 at MHC of lines selected for high (HA) and low (LA) antibody response to sheep erythrocytes. Percentage mortality and hen-day egg production, although similar for both background genomes, were different for MHC genotypes. Mortality was 6% for B21B21 and 15% for B13B13 types. Although hen-day egg production for both types declined from about 76 to 50%, the decrease occurred earlier but recovery of survivors was faster in B13B13 than in B21B21 pullets.