Delayed-type skin reactions in bursectomized or thymectomized chickens

Summary Chickens can easily be induced to develop delayed-type skin reactions to oxazolone when animals are sensitized 7 days before the challenge. The reaction is quantitated by assessing the increase in wattle thickness: maximum reactions occur 24 h after challenge. The reaction is inhibited by neonatal thymectomy or bursectomy; these findings therefore suggest also an important B-derived component in delayed hypersensitivity to oxazolone.This work was done with the aid of grants No. 73.00767.04 and 74.00261.04 from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.