Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a notable disease of poultry flocks that results in economic loss. As a consequence of the presence of various IB virus (IBV) serotypes, control strategies, such as vaccination, should be replaced by provide broad protective immunity against the disease to date. Gram-positive enhancer matrix particles, or so-called bacterium like particles (BLPs), obtained from the bacterium Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis), have demonstrated an adjuvancy effect by providing demanding mucosal and humoral immune responses, as well as a protective cellular immunity whenever delivered admixed with a vaccine via intranasal or intraocular administration. In this study, for the first time, attempts were made to investigate the impact of an IBV vaccine supplemented by various doses of BLPs on induced levels of humoral immunity against IB. For this purpose, increasing doses of derived BLPs (0, 0.15, 0.3, and 0.6 mg dry weight per bird) were admixed with IBV live attenuated H120 serotype vaccine, and were delivered via ocular administration to 4 equal groups of 10 specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens in 4 groups: control, BLP1, BLP2, and BLP3, respectively. In addition, 10 SPF chickens that were not immunized comprised the Unvaccinated group. Blood was collected from 5 members of each group weekly for 35 days. Levels of IgG antibodies in the sera were then assayed using ELISA. Weight gain and the feed conversion ratio of each group were also recorded weekly. Finally, 3 birds from each group were necropsied to evaluate probable lesions. The best results were obtained in the BLP1 group, with IBV vaccination at a low dose of admixed BLPs boosted immediate anti-IBV humoral responses; however, the results were not significantly different from those of the Control group, but were still feasible enough for application in the field. In conclusion, BLPs could be a desirable adjuvant for IBV vaccines to increase immunity in chickens.
Coccidiosis, a protozoal disease caused by a species of the Eimeria genus, causes tremendous economic damage to the poultry industry. Numerous natural remedies have been developed to combat emerging drug-resistant Eimeria species and mitigate public concerns about anticoccidial drug residues in poultry products. In the current study, the anticoccidial efficacy was evaluated of a commercial mixed botanical product, administered in two concentrations, in the treatment and control of a mixed coccidian infection. In this respect, 120 newly hatched broiler chickens were randomly allocated into five equal groups: Cox500, Cox1000, Positive control (PC), Negative control (NC), and Control (C). The first three groups were exposed to oocysts of several Eimeria species, Cox500 and Cox1000, and then received the two concentrations of a botanical blend (500 and 1,000 ml of formula per 1,000 L of drinking water, respectively) for five consecutive days. The positive control also received toltrazuril (7 mg/kg of live weight) through drinking water for two consecutive days. The negative control and control were the challenged-unmedicated and unchallenged-unmedicated groups, respectively. The chicks were monitored for clinical signs, intestinal lesions, performance indices, and oocyst shedding. The results indicated that the tested botanical formula in both concentrations improved the growth performance of the birds. However, the higher concentration prompted lower oocyst shedding and, likewise, toltrazuril in the positive control, healed cecal lesions more rapidly. In summary, the blended botanical formula, particularly in the higher concentration (1,000 ml per 1,000 L of drinking water), could successfully be incorporated into therapeutic strategies against coccidiosis in broiler flocks.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.