Study of the Physiological Changes in Blood Chemistry, Humoral Immune Response and Performance of Quail Chicks Fed Supplemental Chromium

Abstract

One hundred and fifty 2-week old Japanese quail chicks were allotted to 5 groups (30 chicks each) to investigate the effects of adding inorganic chromium (Cr) supplied from chromium chloride (CrCl , 6H O) 3 2 on some blood components, humoral immune responses and growth performance of growing quails. The dietary treatment was different dietary concentrations of Cr in the basal diet, to provide 0.0 (control), 125, 250, 375 and 500 μg / kg feed. Ten chicks per group, at 4 and 6 wk of age were injected intramuscularly with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) to determining the primary and secondary antibody responses, respectively. Chromium supplementation significantly decreased the plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol and total lipids, whereas total protein, globulin, AST and ALT increased. Plasma albumin concentration slightly but not significantly also increased. Dietary Cr caused a significantly increased in plasma level of Ca., but did not affect the plasma concentrate of P. In addition, supplementation with Cr significantly improved body weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio compared to control. However, Cr administration did not affect the relative weights of any organ studied. With respect to humoral immune responses the results indicated that total antibody and IgG titers against SRBCs were significantly higher in chicks receiving Cr at low (125 μg/kg feed) and middle (250 μg/kg feed) doses compared with those of control at secondary immune responses. The results suggest that under condition of this experiment, Cr may play a part in carbohydrate; lipid and proteins metabolism in quail chicks and can used as additives in grower quail diets without side effects on the health of the bird.