Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of long term administration of Nigella sativa seed as an herbal immunomodulatory agent on histological features of caecal tonsils and bursa of Fabricius in broiler chickens. Fifty, one-day old chick were randomly divided into five equal groups and fed with diets containing 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2% of N. sativa seedsfor 45 days. Then birds were slaughtered and 6μm-thick cross sections were made from caecal tonsils and bursa of Fabricius and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Villus height and villus basal width, nodular unit width and height, follicular width and muscular layer width in caecal tonsils as well as height of plicae, follicular width, thickness of follicular cortex and medulla in bursa were determined. In addition, number of follicles in each plica in bursa of Fabricius and number of follicles per nodular unit in caecal tonsils were determined under light microscope. The results showed a change in all histomorphometric parameters of caecal tonsils due to N. sativa administration which followed a dose-dependent pattern in most cases. Villus height, nodular unit width and muscular layer width were decreased while other parameters increased as compared to control. Although all parameters in bursa increased due to N. sativa seed administration, plica height was the only parameter which showed a dose-dependent change. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of N .sativa especially at 2% dose, can improve immune structures of both bursa of Fabricius and caecal tonsils of broilers.

Highlights

  • Stressful conditions in intensive poultry farming can change immune responses and increase the health risks including the chance of development and spreading of microbial diseases

  • The results showed a change in all histomorphometric parameters of caecal tonsils due to BCS administration which followed a dose-dependent pattern in most cases (Table 1)

  • Regarding the remarkable role of caecal tonsil and bursa of Fabricius as primary and basic lymphoid organs in poultry, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of long term administration of N. sativa seed as an herbal immunomodulatory agent on histological features of these organs in broiler chickens

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Summary

Introduction

Stressful conditions in intensive poultry farming can change immune responses and increase the health risks including the chance of development and spreading of microbial diseases. Vaccination and antibiotics are used routinely as main strategies for protection and /or treatment of industrial chickens. Development of resistant pathogenic strains, vaccination stress or incomplete protection after vaccination as well as presence of drug residues in edible tissues adversely affect efficiency and decrease the benefits of using these approaches. A strong immune status is a key factor to fight against infectious diseases and can result in better protective responses after vaccination. Nutritional immunomodulators for example vitamin D3 and yeast cell wall products (Huff et al 2009) as well as different immunostimulant agents with herbal origins are investigated for their possible immunomodulatory properties in chickens. Today extensive investigations for finding alternatives especially for antibiotic use are in progress and the use of medicinal plants has gained a good niche in this regard

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