A comparison of the antibody responses of badgers (Meles meles) and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) to some common antigens.

The primary and secondary antibody responses of rabbits and badgers were compared after intravenous inoculation of inactivated influenza A virus, sheep erythrocytes (SRBCs), bovine serum albumin (BSA) or bacteriophage psi X174. BSA was also given as a primary injection by the intramuscular route in solution or in Freund's incomplete or complete adjuvant, followed by an intravenous secondary inoculation without adjuvant. Antibody responses were monitored by: haemagglutination inhibition and neutralization tests for influenza virus; direct and antiglobulin haemagglutination tests for SRBCs; indirect haemagglutination test and the Farr method for antigen-binding capacity (ABC) for BSA; neutralization of psi X174. Rabbits gave good responses to all antigens, but the response of badgers was generally poor. After intravenous administration, badgers gave a good response only to psi X174, but even then they produced less antibody than rabbits receiving 100 times less antigen; the immune elimination of phage was more rapid and antibody appeared about 48 h earlier in rabbits than in badgers. Intramuscular administration of BSA and the use of adjuvants improved the badgers' response, with greatest improvement in ABC. These results indicate that badgers display relatively poor immune responses to a variety of antigens.