Effects of early nutrition and sanitary conditions on antibody levels in early and later life of broiler chickens

M.S Hollemans,G De Vries Reilingh,S De Vries,H.K Parmentier,A Lammers

doi:10.1016/j.dci.2020.103954

M.S Hollemans, G De Vries Reilingh + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2020.103954

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Abstract

Immune maturation of broiler chickens may be affected by management, such as early life feeding strategy (early versus delayed nutrition) or by low or high sanitary conditions (LSC versus HSC). We compared systemic maternal (MAb), natural (NAb), natural auto- (NAAb), and antigen specific antibody (SpAb) levels (IgM, IgY) between broilers (n = 48 per treatment) that received early (EN) or delayed nutrition for 72 h (DN) housed in either low (LSC) or high sanitary conditions (HSC) between 7 and 35 d of age. We found minimal interactions between feeding strategy and sanitary conditions. At 7 d of age, broilers receiving EN compared with DN, had elevated levels of IgM binding keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), phosphoryl-conjugated ovalbumin (PC-OVA), and muramyl dipeptide (MDP), whereas effects of feeding strategy diminished at later ages. In LSC compared with HSC broilers, levels of NAb agglutinating RRBC and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were already elevated from 14 d of age onwards. At 33 d of age, antibody levels (NAb, NAAb, anti-LPS, anti-MDP) were all elevated in LSC, compared with HSC broilers, for both IgM and IgY, but not IgM against KLH. Western blotting revealed different binding patterns of NAAb against chicken liver homogenate, which may indicate that the NAAb repertoire is affected by antigenic pressure. Our data suggest that antibody levels are affected for an important part by environmental conditions (feeding strategy and sanitary conditions), but minimally by their interaction. However, it remains to be further studied whether the enhanced levels of antibodies as initiated by EN and LSC contribute to enhanced resistance to infectious diseases.

Highlights

Activation and maturation of the immune system, including gener ation of antibodies, is suggested to be dependent on antigen exposure in the intestinal tract during the first days after hatch of broiler chickens (Bar-Shira et al, 2005; Bar-Shira and Friedman, 2006; Simon et al, 2014)
At 7 d of age we measured plasma levels of IgM and IgY binding keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), rabbit red blood cells (RRBC), and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) before immunization, PCOVA (NAAb), LPS and muramyl dipeptide (MDP) (Table 1, Figs. 1 and 2), to study effects of early life feeding strategy (EN versus DN) on early life antibody levels and whether or not these are affected by sanitary conditions (LSC versus high sanitary conditions (HSC))
As levels of natural antibodies (NAb) binding SRBC were higher in LSC compared with HSC broilers at 24 d of age (0 d p.i.), we suggest that in LSC broilers, NAb levels are elevated, while HSC broilers have lower NAb levels and generate higher specific antibody (SpAb) responses

Summary

Introduction

Activation and maturation of the immune system, including gener ation of antibodies, is suggested to be dependent on antigen exposure in the intestinal tract during the first days after hatch of broiler chickens (Bar-Shira et al, 2005; Bar-Shira and Friedman, 2006; Simon et al, 2014). Whether EN contributes to improved later life immune responses, has been subject of debate Most of these studies found little or no effects of EN on antibody levels (Dibner et al, 1998; Lamot et al, 2016; Simon et al, 2014; Walstra, 2011), but these studies were executed under relatively high sanitary conditions. Simon et al (2015) observed lower antigen specific IgY responses in DN broilers, but not in EN broilers, housed under higher antigenic pressure compared with broilers housed under low antigenic pressure This may indicate an interaction between feeding strategy and antigenic pressure on antibody responses in later life

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