Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to chicken immunoglobulin isotypes specifically detect turkey immunoglobulin isotypes

Turkey immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes IgG and IgM were isolated from blood and IgA was isolated from bile. Isolation was accomplished by gel filtration of the ammonium sulphate cut on Sephacry S-200. Using immunoelectrophoresis and indirect ELISA, the cross-reactivity between antibodies, of monoclonal and polyclonal origin, specific for the Ig isotypes of chicken, and the purified turkey Ig isotypes was evaluated. Commercially available polyclonal antibodies, anti-chicken/IgA (α-chain specific, affinity purified), anti-chicken/IgG (Fc-fragment specific) and anti-chicken/IgM (μ-chain specific) showed an interspecies cross-reactivity with the corresponding turkey Ig isotypes. The monoclonal antibody (MAb) AV-G3 specifically detected turkey IgG, whereas MAb M1 reacted exclusively with turkey IgM. This panel of anti-immunoglobulins represents a useful tool for examining the humoral immune responses of turkeys.