Comparison of Mycoplasma meleagridis antibodies demonstrated by tube agglutination and hemagglutination-inhibition tests.

Groups of turkeys inoculated intravenously with hemagglutinating (HA) and nonhemagglutinating (NHA) strains of Mycoplasma meleagridis developed similar antibody titers as demonstrated by the tube agglutination (TA) test, but use of the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test indicated markedly higher titers for turkeys inoculated with the HA strain than for those inoculated with the NHA strain. Adsorption of serum antibody with NHA strain antigen removed most agglutination activity but had little effect on HI activity. These results indicate that the HI and TA tests demonstrated antibody against different antigens, with the HI test detecting antibody directed against the hemagglutinin and the TA test detecting antibody directed against membrane antigens common to both strains.