Further Studies on Duodenal Mucus as a Factor in Age Resistance of Chickens to Parasitism

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Abstract
Reports a continuation of studies begun in 1938 on possible relationships between duodenal goblet cells and intestinal mucus, and the retardation of growth of the fowl nematode Ascaridia galli. Results of an extensive series of tests showed by statistical analysis that the duodenal mucus from sexually mature chickens differs qualitatively from that of young susceptible chickens, manifested by retarding effects on growth of A. galli of old mucus, and lack of such retardation of young mucus. Tests with a constant amt. of mucus demonstrated that the efficiency of the mucus as a worm-growth inhibitor varied directly with the age of fowl from which the mucus was taken. The inhibitory factor is entirely contained in the portion of the mucus soluble in 0.832% saline. A titration of the mucus indicated that the effectiveness of the inhibitory factor is directly dependent upon concn. The effects exerted on the worm by the inhibitory factor appear to be nutritional and temporary.