Effect of Immunostimulants on Humoral Response
against Infectious Bursal Disease in Broilers
B Zahid1, G Saleem1*, A
Aslam1, MS Imran1 and M Younas2
1Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary
and Animal sciences, Lahore; 2College of Veterinary
Sciences, Jhang, Pakistan;
*Corresponding author:gulbeena.saleem@uvas.edu.pk
Abstract
In poultry industry, infectious bursal disease
(IBD) is one of important viral disease causing high mortality and
immunosuppression in chicken. Current experiment was conducted to see the effect
of two commercially available immunostimulants Livol (herbal supplement) and
immunotone (selenium and vit E) in conjunct with IBD virus (IBDV) vaccine in
broilers. A total of 360 one-day old broiler chicks were divided into six equal
groups, i.e., A, B, C, D, E and F. On day 0, birds in groups A, B and E were
vaccinated against IBD. Chicks in groups A and C were treated with Immunotone (a
commercial product) through drinking water and birds of groups B and D were
supplemented with Livol. The effects of immunostimulants against IBD were
evaluated through ELISA by recording weekly serum antibody titer till 42 days.
On days 17, 23 and 29, five birds from each replicate pen were killed for
histopathological studies and bursa/body weight ratio. Significantly (P<0.05)
higher ELISA antibody titer were observed in group B (treated with Livol) as
compared to group F (control). Histopathology revealed varying degree of lympho-proliferative
changes in bursa of Fabricius and spleen with increase number of lymphocytes in
groups B and D. Bursa/body weight ratio was highest in birds of group D whereas
lowest was observed in those of group E. It was concluded that Livol
supplementation may have potent immunomodulatory effect in chickens.