The impact of in ovo injection of l-arginine on hatchability, immune system and caecum microflora of broiler chickens.

The present article was conducted to evaluate the effect of in ovo injection of arginine on hatchability, immune system and caecum microflora of broiler chickens. For this reason, 300 fertile eggs were used in a completely randomized design with three experimental treatments. The experimental groups included: 1%-0.5% l-arginine (100 eggs), 2%-1% l-arginine (100 eggs), 3- control [included both sham control (injection of distilled water; 50 eggs) and control (no injection; 50 eggs)], which were injected on d 14 of incubation. After hatching, chicks of each experimental group (0.5% l-arginine, 1% l-arginine, and control groups) were randomly divided into four equal groups (as replicates) and reared for 30 days. Weight and feeding of chickens were recorded. Next, blood samples of chickens were collected on day 30 to evaluate antibody titre. Also, chickens were slaughtered on 24 and 30 days of the experiment to evaluate immune system organs and caecum microflora. Based on the results, in ovo injection of l-arginine had no significant effect on hatchability, body weight, antibody titre, spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus weight (p > .05). On the other hand, treatments significantly affected feed intake and feed conversion ratio (p < .05). As a novel finding, in ovo injection of l-arginine increased caecal Lactobacillus (p < .01), while decreasing Coliform and Escherichia Coli bacteria (p < .01). However, treatments did not influence caecal Enterococcus (p > .05). The overall results indicated that in ovo injection of 0.5% l-arginine had a better improving effect on caecal microflora and then considered as a recommended level of the present experiment.

The effect of the hexanic extracts of fig (Ficus carica) and olive (Olea europaea) fruit and nanoparticles of selenium on the immunogenicity of the inactivated avian influenza virus subtype H9N2.

Influenza is a contagious viral disease that is seen in avian, human and other mammals, so its control is important. Vaccination against influenza virus subtype H9N2 is one of the ways in controlling program, for this reason several vaccines has been produced. Recently, application of inactivated oil-emulsion vaccines in poultry for controlling low pathogenic avian influenza is increasing. At present, oils that are used as adjuvant in commercial vaccines are mineral oils, which not only lack immunizing effect, but also produce some detriments. The aim of this study is the evaluation the immunogenicity of vegetable oils, which are more metabolizable and safer than mineral oils. In this study the efficacy of hexanic extracts of fig (Ficus carica) and olive (Olea europaea) fruit and also nano-selenium on the immunogenicity of the inactivated avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 was evaluated in broiler chickens. The results indicated that the prepared emulsions could elicit a little degree of immunity, but they could not inhibit the anamnestic response and infection. With regard to the results, it seems that the intact mixture of fig and olive fruit hexanic extracts could not be administered as an immunoadjuvant in the vaccine, and about nano-selenium. In spite of positive effect on the immunogenicity of avian influenza virus subtype H9N2, it still needs more work.