Immunostimulatory effects of Nannochloropsis oculata supplementation on Barki rams growth performance, antioxidant assay, and immunological status

Abstract

Background Natural feed supplements are gaining popularity in the animal production sector due to their safety and potential immunostimulatory properties, as well as the ban of some antibiotics and their negative residual effects. This study was carried out for 1 month to investigate the effect of Nannochloropsis oculata supplementation on growth performance and cell-mediated immunological status of rams assessed by leukogram assessment, lipid oxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin assay after lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) including interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 12 (IL12), and gamma interferon (γ-IF), as well as Comet assay (% of DNA damage, tail length (px), % DNA in tail, tail moment and Olive tail moment). Methods Eighteen Barki rams (26.21 ± 0.64 kg) were divided into 3 equal treatment groups (6 sheep/each), G1: animals served as the control group that was fed the basal diet only, while the other treated groups (G2 and G3 (Nan 1.5% and Nan 3%) were fed the basal diet supplemented with 1.5% and 3% N. oculata (dry matter basis), respectively. Results The obtained results revealed that G3 showed a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in performance (body weight and body weight gain), the highest significant count (P < 0.05) in lymphocytes, and the lowest significant (P < 0.05) levels of neutrophils and neutrophils and lymphocytes ratio (N/L) ratio. Meanwhile, both levels of N. oculata significantly (P < 0.05) decreased MDA and increased TAC than control which seemed to be directly correlated with supplemented dose. There was a significant (P < 0.05) enhancement in the lymphocyte transformation assay produced significant (P < 0.05) high cytokines (IL6, γ-IF, IL12, and TNF-α) and the lowest significant (P <0.05) percent of DNA damage. The conducted principal component analysis estimated the inter-relationship between parameters and revealed that microalgae correlated strongly with cytokine assay and TAC, and negatively with Comet assay parameters; MDA, and neutrophils. Conclusions It can be noted that dietary addition of N. oculata 3% increased sheep's performance while also producing significant-high cytokines. It also enhanced sheep immunology by considerably enhancing lymphocyte transformation ability. The antioxidant activity of Nannochloropsis appears to influence these findings. It was proposed that the Barki rams’ basal diet be supplemented with 3% N. oculata.

Molecular Identification of Microbial Conjunctivitis of Neonatal Camels After Parturition With Special Reference to Natural Anti-Microbial Activity

“…Therefore, recognizing the relation between vaginal and conjunctival microflora may be useful in finding spreading mechanisms of bacterial mutations (Meekins et al, 2017). On the other hand, the miss uses of veterinary antibiotics medications leads to the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon which are widely distributed (El-Hawy at al., 2022). Consequently, the microflora of the mother camels which subjected to any changes (as acquiring antimicrobial resistance) may lead to reproductive disorders and microbial transmission to neonate (Tibary et al, 2006 andAli et al, 2010).…”

“…Consequently, the microflora of the mother camels which subjected to any changes (as acquiring antimicrobial resistance) may lead to reproductive disorders and microbial transmission to neonate (Tibary et al, 2006 andAli et al, 2010). The antimicrobial resistance phenomenon give a huge force to use natural economic alternatives as marine algae (Nannocloropsis oculata) to solve this serious problem (El-Hawy at al., 2022 andHelmy et al, 2023). This work was done to investigate the probability of microflora transmission and infection from mother camels to their newborn calves, observation of antimicrobial resistance and evaluation of Nannocloropsis oculata as natural antimicrobial alternative.…”