Immunopharmacological Evaluation of Synbiotics and Enramycin in Broilers

Abstract

The present study was planned to evaluate the influence of synbiotic and enramycin on the broiler immunity and growth performance. In a complete randomized design, 90 unsexed day old Cobb broiler chicks were randomly assigned into three treatments with three replicated. The first control group fed basal diet only, the 2 nd group consumed basal diet plus enramycin (0.5g/kg diet), and the 3 rd group fed basal diet fortified with synbiotic (0.5g/kg diet) up to 42 days. The results revealed a significant (P<0.05) improvement of the growth performance considerations, phagocytic index, and phagocytic percentage in synbiotic fortified group in comparison with other groups. Oral supplementation with synbiotic resulted in up regulation of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in cecal tonsils and spleens when compared with the control and enramycin groups. However, the antibody titers against Newcastle disease (ND), Avian Influenza (AI), and Infectious Bronchitis (IB) viruses were not obviously changed between the tested groups at both 28 and 42 days. Moreover, the enramycin caused a significant (P<0.05) adverse effect on the liver function enzymes as compared with other groups. In conclusion, the synbiotic can be considered as a potential feed additive alternative to antibiotic with desired effect as an enhancer for both cellular and gut immunity, as a growth promoter without adverse effect on the liver healthiness. Copyright © Faculty of Veterinary Medicine