Chicken lines divergently selected on feather pecking differ in immune characteristics

• Published in: Physiology & behavior 2019-12, Vol.212, p.112680-112680, Article 112680
• Main Authors: van der Eijk, Jerine A.J., Verwoolde, Michel B., de Vries Reilingh, Ger, Jansen, Christine A., Rodenburg, T. Bas, Lammers, Aart
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Feather pecking; Immune system; Natural (auto)antibodies; Nitric oxide production; Specific antibodies
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112680

It is crucial to identify whether relations between immune characteristics and damaging behaviors in production animals exist, as these behaviors reduce animal welfare and productivity. Feather pecking (FP) is a damaging behavior in chickens, which involves hens pecking and pulling at feathers of conspecifics. To further identify relationships between the immune system and FP we characterized high FP (HFP) and low FP (LFP) selection lines with regard to nitric oxide (NO) production by monocytes, specific antibody (SpAb) titers, natural (auto)antibody (N(A)Ab) titers and immune cell subsets. NO production by monocytes was measured as indicator for innate pro-inflammatory immune functioning, SpAb titers were measured as part of the adaptive immune system and N(A)Ab titers were measured as they play an essential role in both innate and adaptive immunity. Immune cell subsets were measured to identify whether differences in immune characteristics were reflected by differences in the relative abundance of immune cell subsets. Divergent selection on FP affected NO production by monocytes, SpAb and N(A)Ab titers, but did not affect immune cell subsets. The HFP line showed higher NO production by monocytes and higher IgG N(A)Ab titers compared to the LFP line. Furthermore the HFP line tended to have lower IgM NAAb titers, but higher IgM and IgG SpAb titers compared to the LFP line. Thus, divergent selection on FP affects the innate and adaptive immune system, where the HFP line seems to have a more responsive immune system compared to the LFP line. Although causation cannot be established in the present study, it is clear that relationships between the immune system and FP exist. Therefore, it is important to take these relationships into account when selecting on behavioral or immunological traits. [Display omitted] •We studied immune characteristics of lines differing in feather pecking (FP).•High and low FP lines did not differ in relative abundance of immune cell subsets.•High FP line monocytes produced more nitric oxide ex vivo vs low FP line monocytes.•High FP line had higher specific and natural (auto)antibody titers vs low FP line.•High FP line seems to have a more responsive immune system vs low FP line.