β(1-3)(1-6)-D-Glucan with Strong Effects on Immune Status in Chicken: Potential Importance for Efficiency of Commercial Farming

Abstract

In face of the challenge of the emergent new diseases and the current efforts of the governments to ban growth-promoting antibiotics and to improve conditions and overall health of the farmed animals, new opportunities are created for natural, highly effective, cost affordable immunomodulators. Supplementation of animal feed with β-glucans has repeatedly been shown to modulate the immune system. In this study we focused on evaluation of the effects of new insoluble, fungi-derived β-glucan as dietary supplement in chicken. We found that his β-glucan has the potential to stimulate growth, phagocytic activity, and IL-2 production. In addition, it significantly lowered the levels of TNF-α and cortisol levels elevated by a lipopolysaccharide challenge.