Immunoprotective effect of seabuckthorn (hippophae rhamnoides) and glucomannan on T-2 toxin-induced immunodepression in poultry

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to study the immunoprotective effect of seabuckthorn berries and glucomannan against T-2 toxin-induced immunodepression in 15-day-old chicks. T-2 toxin was produced in the laboratory by growing Fusarium sporotrichioides MTCC 2081 on wheat. T-2 toxin was fed to birds at 1ppm level of the diet. The powdered seabuckthorn berries were added at 400 and 800ppm levels, and glucomannan added at 1g/kg of feed. All the treatments were continued up to 28 days. The immunoprotective effects of seabuckthorn and glucomannan were assessed by evaluating humoral immune reaction against NCD vaccine (haemagglutination test and immunoglobulin estimation), serum immunoglobulin levels, phagocytic index, and DTH reaction against DNFB between day 25 and day 28 of experiment. There was significant (P