Effect of vitamin E levels on the cell-mediated immunity of broilers vaccinated against coccidiosis

Abstract

Studies on the relationships between animal nutrition and immunity have sought reliable methodologies to measure responses. Cellmediated immune response is similarly studied in humans. The cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity test (CBH) is one of the methods to measure that response and consists in the infiltration of inflammatory cells, particularly of lymphocytes and basophils, as result of the application of substances capable of inducing cell proliferation in determined sites, such as wings, wattle, and interdigital space in birds. CBH is considered a simple and fast method and can be applied in birds of different ages. In immunocompetence studies with poultry, phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) is a commonly used substance, despite the variability of the response related to the method of application (intradermal injection) and the antigens used. In the present experiment, PHA-P was used to observe the cell-mediated immune response of 216 chicks fed three dietary levels of vitamin E from 1 to 36 days of age. All birds were immunologically challenged by vaccination against coccidiosis at three days of age and against Newcastle Disease (NCD) at 14 and 30 days of age. At 36 days of age, birds were submitted to the CBH test according to the methodology of Corrier & DeLoach (1990). Birds fed 65mg/kg of vitamin E presented lasting cell reaction (p≤0.08), which indicates that this vitamin E level improved cell immune response of birds due to its antioxidant and immunomodulating properties. The use of this vitamin E level can be considered by nutritionists under practical conditions, aiming to improve broiler immunity. INTRODUCTIONIn studies with birds which objective is to evaluate the immune responses and in which nutrients are manipulated to enhance bird immunity, not only performance responses are used. As the immune system is very complex, and some parameters are influenced by related sub-systems, immune responses are also used. Cell-mediated immune response is one of that methodologies applied in this kind of research as an auxiliary tool.Cutaneous basophil hipersensitivity (CBH) test consists of an intradermal injection of phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) in the skin between the 3 rd and 4 th interdigital space of chickens, where the thymus-dependent reaction mediated by T cells is easy to analyze. This test can be performed in birds of up to two weeks of age, according Stadecker et al., (1977) but other authors (Boa-Amponsen et al., 2000;Sakamoto et al. 2006) have applied it in older birds. Corrier & Deloach (1990)

The Effect of Nitrate on some Biochemical Parameters of Rabbits and Ameliorate its Effect by using Vitamin E and Rosemary (<i>Rosmarinus Officinalis</i>)

“…This indicates the immunostimulatory activity of vitamin E and rosemary (Shokrollahi et al, 2015). Vitamin E is one of the most frequent studied nutrients presenting immunomodulation properties (Silva et al, 2011). Also, these results are consistent with Al-Sheyab et al (2012).…”

<b>Heat stress and vitamin E in diets for broilers as a mitigating measure

“…This is the mechanism by which it is the vitamin E has immunomodulatory effect (Chew, 1996). Demonstrating the immunomodulatory and antioxidant activity of vitamin E, Silva et al (2011) found increased duration of cellular reaction when supplemented levels above 65 mg/kg to broilers challenged with vaccine against coccidiosis and New Castle.…”

“…Vitamin E, in turn, stimulates the enzyme glutathione peroxidase activity of circulating neutrophils and macrophages and also promotes increased activity of T lymphocytes (Silva et al, 2011). As a result, there is increased phagocytic activity, and increased production of antibodies, resulting in increased immune activity.…”

“…In the immune response of broilers to stressors, one of the most important processes occurs when foreign particles, such as bacteria, bind to heterophils, which are the first line of defense of birds (Silva et al, 2011). Then, it increases the concentration of free radicals such as superoxide (O 2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 0 2 ) that are produced at large quantities by NADPH oxidase enzyme for later use in oxygen-dependent mechanisms to eliminate invading pathogens (Burton & Traber, 1990).…”

Effect of Vitamin E Supplementation and High Stocking Density on the Performance and Stress Parameters of Broilers

“…Vitamin E has been reported to be an excellent biological antioxidant and its administration reduces the physiological response of organisms to stress through enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense mechanisms against free radicals (Dalolio et al, 2015). One of the many approaches proposed to enhance immune response is the supplementation of broiler diets with vitamin E at the level of 65mg/kg Silva et al (2011).…”