Development of a lavage procedure to collect crop secretions from live chickens for studying crop immunity

Abstract

The crop (ingluvies), an organ for food storage in most avian species, is located at the base of the oesophagus. Previous work in our laboratory showed that, following infection with Salmonella enteritidis, significant anti-S. enteritidis antibody levels could be found in the crops of these birds. Samples in these previous studies were obtained by flushing the interiors of crops excised from killed birds, which is both labour and animal intensive. A method was sought that allowed multiple sampling of the same birds over time. We found that lavage fluid could be administered directly into the crop down the oesophagus using a narrow-diameter plastic tubing attached to a syringe, and the fluid could then be aspirated back into the syringe. Antibody-containing crop secretions could be collected with minimal discomfort to the test animals. In a study where birds were challenged with S. enteritidis, immunoglobulin A anti-S. enteritidis titres 3 weeks post-challenge were similar in crop samples obtained by live lavage versus the flushing of crops removed from killed birds. Such a sampling procedure may provide researchers with a simple method to follow mucosal immunity in chickens following infection or vaccination regimens.

Isolation ofSalmonella entericaSerovar Enteritidis from Houseflies (Musca domestica) Found in Rooms ContainingSalmonellaSerovar Enteritidis-Challenged Hens

“…Intestinal shedding was determined by intraperitoneal pilocarpine administration as described above. Crop colonization was determined as described previously (22). Briefly, 20 cm of tubing (Tygon; interior diameter, 1/8; outer diameter, 3/16; Fisher Scientific) attached to a 10-ml syringe was inserted down the esophagus into the crop, and 5 ml of crop lavage solution (1 M Tris-glycine buffer with 0.25% Tween 20 [pH 7 to 8]) was administered into the crop.…”

The developmental architecture of the crop of quail embryos (Coturnix coturnix): Morphometric, light and scanning electron microscopy

“…The crop stores the ingested food and moistens it by the mucous secreted from the crop glands when the stomach is completely filled (Jackson & Duke, 1995; Kadhim & Mohamed, 2015). In addition, the crop performs an immunological function as it contains aggregations of lymphoid tissues within the lamina propria (Holt et al., 2002).…”

“…The crop stores the ingested food and moistens it by the mucous secreted from the crop glands (Jackson & Duke, 1995; Kadhim & Mohamed, 2015). In addition, the crop performs an immunological function as it contains aggregations of lymphoid tissues within the lamina propria (Holt et al., 2002). On the other hand, the crop is absent in many avian species such as; penguin, gulls, grey‐backed shrike, captive bustards, ostrich and rheas (Cooper & Mahroze, 2004; Rajabi & Nabipour, 2009; Rodrigues et al., 2012; Smith & Sales, 1995.…”