Aim: The effect of a specific combination of a
soluble β (1-3) D-Glucan and Propionibacterium
granulosum was investigated on productive
performance, immune response and immune
dysfunction caused by cyclophosphamide (CP) in
broiler chickens.
Materials and Methods:
Three hundred and sixty one-day-old broiler chicks
were randomly allocated into four groups for 5
weeks. Betamune® supplementation of 0.25 ml / L
drinking water (presence or absence) for the first
7 days of age and CP (presence or absence)
subcutaneous inoculation with 4 mg / chick for the
first 3 days of life was done.
Results:
Treatment of broiler chicks with Betamune®
improved productive performance variables as
compared with the blank control birds, where there
were 10 points less in cumulative feed conversion
ratio and significant increase (P<0.05) in final
body weight, both intestinal length and diameter,
and European production efficiency factor (EPEF).
It also modulated the immune response, where there
was non-significant improve in haemagglutination
inhibition (HI) antibody titers against Newcastle
disease (ND) virus vaccine and significant
increase (P<0.05) in phagocytic % and phagocytic
index. The lesion score after ND challenge reached
only 70 in β (1-3) D-Glucan group as compared with
80 in blank control group. The histomorphological
examination of Betamune® treated chickens at 5
weeks of age revealed lymphoid hyperplasia in
bursal follicles, lymphoid cells of cortical
portion of thymus glands and lymphoid cells in the
white pulps of spleen. CP did affect bird's weight
and suppressed immune system. Treatment CP
suppressed birds with Betamune® significantly
increased (P<0.05) final body weight, dressing
weight %, giblets weight %, intestinal diameter,
improved FCR (28 points less than untreated
group), decreased cumulative mortality and
improved EPEF. Betamune® counter attacked immune
dysfunction caused by CP, where there was
significant increase in HI antibody titer against
ND vaccine, no significant increase in phagocytic
% and phagocytic index and improve in the lesion
score after ND challenge (99 as compared to 133).
Betamune® supplementation reduced microscopic
lesion scores associated with CP immune
dysfunction.
Conclusion: It could be
concluded that administration of a specific
combination of soluble β1.3, D-Glucan and
Propionibacterium granulosum (Betamune®) to
broiler chickens improved chicken zootechnical
performance response variables, had a potent
immunomodulatory effect (potentiated immune
response), evoked their immune response and
enhanced their vaccination effectiveness.
Keywords: chickens, cyclophospha-mide,
Propionibacterium granulosum, β (1-3) D-Glucan
