This study aimed at evaluating the influence of Glutamine (Gln) and Vitamin E (VE) supplementation on the performance and immune response of broilers. A completely randomizes experimental design with a 2 x 3 (VE x Gln) factorial arrangement was used. VE was supplemented at 10 and 500 mg/kg feed, with or without Gln (1%) addition, and two periods of supplementation in the starter diets (1-7 and 1-14 days of age), with five replicates of 50 birds each. The analyzed parameters were: live performance (weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio); relative weights of the spleen, bursa, and thymus; antibody titers (with sheep red blood cells suspension -SRBC) and cutaneous basophilic hypersensivity (CBH). Data were submitted to the analysis of variance, and means were compared using the test of Tukey. Treatments did not influence (P>0.05) live performance parameters or antibody titers. VE reduced (P=0.01) CBH, with the level of 10 mg VE/kg allowing higher cell proliferation as compared to 500 mg VE/kg. As to lymphoid organs, only the spleen was affected (P=0.035) by Gln, which resulted in higher spleen relative weight when fed during the first week of age. Results showed that 10 mg VE/kg with Gln (1-7 days) promoted better immune responses.

Leishmania sp. infection was investigated in wild animals from the Ingá Park, in the municipality of Maringá, Paraná state, Brazil, where American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is an endemic disease. Sixty-five mammals, comprising Didelphis albiventris, Cerdocyon thous, Lycalopex vetulus, Cebus apella, Dasyprocta azarae, Dasypus novemcinctus, Procyon cancrivorus and Nasua nasua, were captured. Blood samples were collected for parasite cultivation. Antibodies were investigated by direct agglutination test (DAT) using Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis as antigen. Flagellates were observed in blood cultures of 14 (35.9%) Didelphis albiventris. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected in 31 (51.6%) specimens of Cerdocyon thous, Lycalopex vetulus, Cebus apella, Dasyprocta azarae, Procyon cancrivorus and Nasua nasua. These results suggest that Cerdocyon thous and Lycalopex vetulus (crab-eating fox), Cebus apella (capuchin monkey), Dasyprocta azarae (agouti), Procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon) and Nasua nasua (coati) play an important role in the ACL transmission cycle in the northwestern region of Paraná, Brazil.

Arginine, macrophage, maternal diet, offspring immunity.Submitted: September/2013 Approved: January/2014 ABSTRACTThe influence of supplementing the diet of broiler breeder hens with arginine (Arg) on their offspring's humoral and cell-mediated immune response was evaluated in two experiments. In experiments I and II, breeder hens were fed diets containing graded levels of Arg (0.943,

SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) in broiler chickens diets on immune responses (humoral and cellular), weight of lymphoid organs and hematological profile. A total of 192 birds, raised in metabolism cages until the 21st day, were distributed in a completely randomised design with six treatments, eight replicates and four birds per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of diets containing 0; 1,000; 2,000; 3,000; 4,000 and 5,000 ppm of EEP. The inclusion of EEP gave a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) for relative weight of spleen and cloacal bursa, with the lowest weights found at the level of 2,946 ppm and 2,985 ppm of EEP, respectively. For the relative weight of thymus no change was observed (P > 0.05). There was no change (P > 0.05) in percentages of lymphocyte, heterophil, basophil, eosinophil and heterophil: lymphocyte ratio with the inclusion of EEP. However, there was a reduction (P < 0.05) in the percentage of monocyte to the inclusion level of 3,000 ppm of EEP when compared to control. The phagocytic activity of macrophages, the average number of phagocytised red cells and nitric oxide production were not affected (P > 0.05). The interdigital response to phytohaemagglutinin showed negative linear and quadratic behavior (P < 0.05) as a function of time and levels of inclusion, respectively, noting the smallest value of the reaction with 3,074 ppm of EEP. The birds showed a linear increase (P < 0.05) of serum antibodies against Newcastle disease, however, when each level of inclusion was compared to the control no difference was observed (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the addition of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm of EEP to the starter broiler diet did not have immunostimulant effect.Key words: antibody, cellular immune response, immune system, humoral immune response. RESUMENEste estudio evaluó la suplementación de extracto etanólico de propóleos (EEP) en dietas de pollos de engorde sobre la respuesta inmune (humoral y celular), peso de órganos linfoides y perfil hematológico. Se utilizaron 192 pollos de engorde, machos, criados en jaulas de metabolismo hasta los 21 días de edad. El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar con seis tratamientos, que consistieron en diferentes niveles de inclusión de EEP (0; 1.000; 2.000; 3.000; 4.000 y 5.000 ppm), con ocho repeticiones y cuatro aves por unidad experimental. La inclusión dietética de EEP provocó un efecto cuadrático (P < 0,05) en el peso relativo del bazo y bolsa de Fabricio, con menores pesos en pollos suplementados con 2.946 y 2.985 ppm de EEP, respectivamente. En el peso relativo del timo no se observó efecto (P > 0,05) de los tratamientos. La inclusión de EEP no alteró (P > 0,05) el porcentaje de linfocitos, heterófilos, basófilos, eosinófilos y la relación heterófilo:linfocito. Hubo reducción (P < 0,05) en el porcentaje de monocitos con la inclusión de 3.000 ppm de EEP en comparación al control. La actividad fagocítica de los macrófagos, número promedio de eritrocitos fagocitados y pro...