Effectiveness of phyto-biotic fortified-diet on broilers growth performance and gut, cellular, and humoral immunity signals

Abstract

The current research was designed to examine the effectiveness of Phyto-biotic on broilers performance and immunity as well as liver and kidney functions. Ninety, one-day-old Cobb chicks were allocated into two equal groups (n=45) with three replicates per group. The first group, the control (G1) fed basal diet only while the second one (G2) fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5gm/kg diet Phyto-biotic. Experimental birds were monitored for 6 weeks old. The growth performance parameters were determined. The serum levels of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT), creatinine, and uric acid were estimated at 21th and 42nd days of age. The cellular immunity was examined at the third and fifth weeks. Genes expression of the gut immunity (IL4 and IFN-γ) were assessed in cecal tonsils and spleen at 35th days of the study. Humoral antibody titers against Newcastle Disease (ND), Avian Influenza (H5N1), and Infectious Bronchitis (IB) viruses vaccines were evaluated at 28th and 42nd days of the study. The dietary inclusion of Phyto-biotic in broilers resulted in significant improvement of their growth performance, liver and kidney functions, phagocytic index and percent, and serum antibody titers against ND virus. Together with, a significant up-regulation of the genes expression of IL4 and IFN-γ in the cecal tonsils and spleen. In conclusion, the Phyto-biotic could be effectively used as a growth promoter and immune-stimulant in broilers breeding for their role in the improvement of growth performance and immunity with no deleterious effect on the liver and kidney functions.