Modulating effect of peppermint and eucalyptus oils in infectious bursal disease immunocompromised chickens

The immunomodulatory effect of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils in broiler chickens immunoconmpromised by either infection or vaccination with infectious bursal disease virus [IBDV] was investigated. No significant difference in HI titers was observed in volatile oils treated group over their untreated one at any interval. However, the protection percentage reached 35% in treated group and was 25% in untreated one as Compared with 0% in unvaccinated control group when challenged with velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus [vvNDV]. Significant increase in Bursa / body weight ratios was observed between IBDV vaccinated treated group as compared with untreated one at 3 and 10 days post-vaccination [PV]. In addition, significant increase was observed between IBDV infected treated birds versus infected untreated group at 3 days Post-infection [PI]. These findings indicate that treatment with volatile oil ameliorated the immunocompromised effects of IBDV vaccine or infection on immune system of treated birds. The positive effect of volatile oils on cell mediated immunity of treated birds revealed significant increase in phagocytic%, lysozyme and nitric oxide activities at 14 and 28 days of age in IBDV vaccinated and treated birds as compared with IBDV vaccinated and untreated birds. Moreover; the phagocytic index was higher in IBDV infected and treated birds over non treated ones at 42 days of age. Histomorphological examination of the major immune organs clarified lymphocytic necrosis and depletion, hyperplasia of reticuloendothelial cells, vacuolations of lymphoid follicles, interfollicular lyinphocytic cells infiltration and interfollicular connective tissue proliferation of bursa of Fabricius [B,F]. Lymphocytic depletion and hyperplasia of reticular cells of spleen. Lymphocytic necrosis, depletion, focal hemorrhage of thymus glands. Necrosis and depletion of caecal tonsils. The sum lesion scores were 0, 0, 2 and 1, 1, 5 in volatile oils treated and untreated chickens at 3, 7 and 10 days PV respectively. While the sum lesion scores reached 21, 23, 14 and 21, 23, 20 in volatile oils treated and untreated chickens at 3, 7 and 10 days PI respectively. On the other hand there was lymphoblast activation reached 1 score in BF in volatile oils treated group only at 3 and 7 days PV. No histopathological changes all over the experimental period could be detected in blank control group. In conclusion our study reveals that eucalyptus and peppermint oils have a potent immunomodulatory effects and are able to evoke the immune response in IBDV vaccinated or infected chickens

Effect of pediococcus acidilactici and saccharomyces boulardii as probiotics on intestinal and caecal colonization of salmonella typhimurium and clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens

A significant reduction in intestinal and caecal colonization of Clostridium perfringens [C. perfringens] during 21 days post infection [PI] has occurred on using the probiotics Pediococcus acidilactici or Saccharomyces boiilardii. However; the former resulted in a higher reduction than the latter. The same results were also obtained with Saccharomyces boulardii at 7 and 14 days PI. Reduction in Salmonella typhimurium [S. typhinwrium] caecal colonization significantly happened during the entire period of the experiment [21 days] on using the two studied probiotics. Neither mortality nor disease lesions could be obtained in experimentally infected groups with the used doses of both S.typhimurium and C perfringens under the conditions of the experiment

Effect of synbiotic as immunomodulator on humoral and cell mediated immunity in ummuno-compromized broiler chickens

For assaying the immunomodulatory effect of the studied synbiotic "Enterococcus faecium and oligosaccharides" the humoral immune response, the cell mediated immune response, the major lymphoid organs / body weight indices and the histomorphological changes of the major lymoid organs were determined in non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed broiler chickens with cyclophosphamide [CP]. Statistical significant immunopotentiation in both humoral immunity and cell mediated immunity was obtained. Significant increases in bursa / body weight, spleen / body weight and thymus / body weight indices were also obtained. Histomorphological changes in bursa of Fabricius showed many activated lymphoblasts and reticular cell hyperplasia in the medula of the bursal follicles as compared with their controls. In conclusion; the use of the studied synbiotic can positively regulate or alter the immune response not only in normal broiler chickens but also in the immuno-compromised as well