Abstract

Introduction: Stimulation of the immune response of broiler chicken is an important topic in broiler industry. The use of trace elements and vitamins to stimulate broilers body to perform well immunologically is very important issue.
Aim: The current study aimed to compare the effect of selected trace elements with ascorbic acid on protein patterns of broiler chickens.
Materials and Methods: Therefore, seventy-five broiler chickens were divided into 5 equal groups. Birds in the group 1 kept on basal diet only and served as control group. Birds in the groups 2-5 were kept on basal diet mixed with same dose (100mg/kg diet) of ascorbic acid, copper sulphate or zinc sulphate, respectively and with 10mg/kg diet of potassium iodide. Birds were immunized through wing vein injection with 1 ml of 5% sheep red blood cells suspension after two weeks from the start of the experiment. The other wing vein was used for blood samples collection at 2 and 4 weeks post immunization. The harvested sera were used for colorimetric determination of serum total protein, albumin and total globulin. In addition, serum globulin fractions (α, ß and γ) were determined by salt fractionation.
Results: The current findings indicated that, zinc sulphate or ascorbic acid were potent immunostimulents as evidenced by increased concentrations of serum total proteins, total globulins and γ-globulin fraction of preimmunized chickens fed diet mixed with either zinc sulphate or ascorbic acid compare to control. However, the immunostimulant effect of zinc sulphate was more pronounced. Copper sulphate was immunosuppressive as reflected on decreased total globulins and γ-globulin fraction in the serum of preimmunized chickens compare to control. Potassium iodide did not affect the protein patterns in the serum of examined birds.
Conclusion: The current study recommend the addition of the examined dose of zinc sulphate or ascorbic acid to the diet of broiler chicken. However, addition of the examined dose of copper sulphate to the diet of broiler chickens of is not recommended.
 

Keywords

Ascorbic acid, Zinc sulphate, Potassium iodide, Copper sulphate, Broiler chickens, LSD, PHA, Diets,