Detection of inhibitors in chicken tracheal washings against Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

A chicken tracheal ring tissue-culture system was used to demonstrate that specific and nonspecific substances in chicken tracheal secretions inhibit the cilia-stopping effect (CSE) of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). In chickens less than six weeks old, specific inhibitory substances were found in tracheal washings from chickens inoculated with MG. Nonspecific inhibitory substances were found in tracheal washes from untreated chickens seven weeks or older. Complement may play a role in the inhibition of CSE. Secretory immunoglobulin A was not detected in the tracheal washes.