Secretory antibodies against turkey coronaviral enteritis.

Studies on local immunity to transmissible coronaviral enteritis of turkeys (bluecomb) was made. Intestinal secretions and bile from affected birds contained secretory immunoglobulins against coronaviral antigen throughout the 6 months' duration of the experiment. Attempts to purify and to characterize the globulins in intestinal secretions and bile of the affected birds were made, using the techniques of gel filtration, DEAE chromatography, and immunoelectrophoresis. Class-specific anti-turkey IgA antiserum in the agar gel precipitin test further established the presence of IgA in the intestinal secretions and bile.