Iqra Asghar, Farzana Rizvi*, Muhammad Wasim Usmani, Muhammad Zulqarnain Shakir, Nasir Mahmood, Muhammad Numan, Muhammad Sohaib Ikram and Namra Waqar
Immune-modulatory effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa) was investigated in Escherichia (E.) coli induced infected broiler chicks. A flock of one hundred broiler birds were purchased and divided equally into four equal groups (A-D). Negative and positive control were assigned to groups A and B respectively. Birds of groups C and D were supplemented with turmeric at 10g/kg of feed from 10th to 42nd days of age. Birds of groups B and D were given a pathogenic strain of E. coli (1×104 CFU/ml/bird) on their 15th day of age. The hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay was used to assess the humoral immune response to SRBCs and NDV. An avian tuberculin test and a carbon clearance assay were used for cellular immune response. Levels of IgA and IgG were determined through ELISA. Results showed that antibody titers against NDV and SRBCs were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the turmeric supplemented group. Similarly, levels of IgA and IgG were significantly higher (p<0.05) in birds supplemented with turmeric. The phagocytic index and lymphoproliferative response were significantly higher in the turmeric supplemented groups C and D as compared to control groups A and B. The findings of this study revealed that 10g/kg of dietary turmeric supplementation in broiler feed improves the cellular and humoral immune responses of broiler birds.
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Journal of Microbial Pathogenesis received 17 citations as per Google Scholar report
