Concerted Immunological Responses to Newcastle Disease Virus and Sheep Red Blood Cells In Chickens Supplemented With Different Levels of Vitamins C and E

Abstract

The effect of dietary supplementation with vitamins C and E on immune responses to Newcastle disease virus and sheep red blood cells was studied in chickens.  A commercially supplied basal diet was supplemented with either 120 or 240 mg of vitamin C per kg feed, whereas vitamin E was supplemented at either 140 or 280 mg/kg feed, the two concentrations being taken as low and high supplementation levels of either vitamin, respectively. According to supplementation levels, chickens were grouped as follows: low vitamin C (LC); high vitamin C (HC) low vitamin E (LE); high vitamin E (HE); combined low vitamins C and E (LCE) and combined high vitamins C and E (HCE). A control group received only the basal diet. Antibody responses of the chickens to NDV were determined at 4 and 15 weeks of age. Immunoglobulin response to sheep red blood cells was determined at the age of 8 weeks. The results showed that chickens  supplemented with higher vitamin levels (240 and 280 mg of vitamin C and E, respectively, per kg feed) were more immunocompetent and generated higher antibody responses to both, NDV and SRBC, than the chickens supplemented with low vitamin levels (120 and 140 mg of vitamin C and E, respectively, per kg feed). Vitamin supplementation is recommended for higher immunological status and efficient production of chickens