Abstract
Summary The effects of dietary vitamins C (VC), E (VE) and sunflower oil (SFO) on immune responses of heat-stressed male broiler chickens were evaluated. All birds were kept under consistent temperatures from 10:00 to 20:00 and from 20:00 to 10:00 throughout the 1-49 day of age period. Antibodies to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in serum on the10th day of postimmunization at 18, 35 and 48d of age were determined. At 7wk, CD4/CD8 T lymphocyte ratios in peripheral blood were determined. VC, VE, SFO or their interaction had not significant effects on immune responses indices and total mortality. However, chicks fed the VE-supplemented diet had a higher antibody titer against NDV at 18 and 48d of age and higher CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratios. In addition, increasing SFO from 0 to 2.5%, enhanced anti-NDV levels at 18 and 35d of age and increased CD4/CD8 ratios at 49d of age. Moreover, total mortality was decreased with increaseing VC concentration from 0 to 255ppm, VE from 0 to 288ppm and SFO from 0 to 2.5 and 5%. These results suggest that immune responses and especially mortality in heat-stressed broiler chickens be ameliorated by use of SFO accompanied by dietary VE or VC supplementation.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
