Screening of Chicks with Erythromyeloblastic Leukosis for Plasma Activity in Dephosphorylation of Adenosine Triphosphate.

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Abstract
A micro procedure was devised for the rapid testing, in 5 lambda volumes, of the plasma of chickens with erythromyeloblastic leukosis for their capacity to dephosphorylate adenosine triphosphate. Blood obtained in capillary tubes was centrifuged free of cells and the plasma was mixed with a test soln. of adenosine triphosphate and bromthymol blue at pH 8.2. The rate of acid liberation associated with the enzyme activity was measured on the basis of the change of the initially blue color to the green of the indicator at pH 6.6. Tests in 1128 birds revealed wide variation, but there was a close correlation of the results of the micro test with those of the titrimetric measurement of enzyme activity. It is possible to screen 100 birds in 2 hrs. Since dephosphorylation is related to the particulate component and to the infectious capacity of the plasmas the testing is invaluable in the selection of the small percentage of birds with this disease high in these attributes.