Immunosenescence and age-related susceptibility to influenza virus in Japanese quail.

We evaluated juvenile, pubescent, reproductive adult, and aged Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) to determine if there were age-related differences in immune function with the hypothesis that aged birds would have weaker immune responses. Immune responses were measured using phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin test, antibody response to foreign red blood cells and exposure to an H9N2 influenza virus. Adult birds consistently had stronger immune responses than young and aged birds. Aged quail had skin responses 38% lower than adults. Pubescent birds' mean anti-red blood cell response was four-fold lower than adult birds. Adults had greater increase in total anti-viral antibody between primary and secondary infections than all other groups. Our data demonstrate an age-related difference in immune function in Japanese quail that has similarities to age-related immunity in humans; younger and older animals had weaker immune responses compared to young adults.