Comparative immune response and pathogenicity of the H9N2 avian influenza virus after administration of Immulant®, based on Echinacea and Nigella sativa, in stressed chickens. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eladl, Abdelfattah H.; Arafat, Nagah; El-Shafei, Reham A.; Farag, Verginia M.; Saleh, Rasha M.; Awadin, Walaa F.
• Is Part Of: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases. Volume 65(2019)
• Page Start: 165
• Page End: 175
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: AIV avian influenza virus -- DPC days post-challenge -- EID50 50% embryo infective dose -- HI haemagglutination inhibition -- LPAI low pathogenic avian influenza -- MEVAC Middle East company for veterinary vaccine -- NLQP national laboratory for veterinary quality control on poultry production -- PV post-vaccination -- PC post-challenge -- IMU Immulant® -- DEX dexamethasone -- VAC vaccinated -- BW body weight -- GMTs geometric mean titers -- TLC Total leukocyte count -- H/L Heterophil/ lymphocyte -- sMDA serum malondialdehyde -- rMDA liver homogenate malondialdehyde -- NO nitric oxide -- GSH reduced glutathione -- IHC immunohistochemistry; Immulant® -- AIV-H9N2 -- Vaccine -- Chickens -- Stress -- Dexamethasone; Communicable diseases in animals -- Periodicals; Veterinary immunology -- Periodicals; Veterinary microbiology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- immunology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- veterinary -- Periodicals; Allergy and Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Immunologie -- Périodiques; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Maladies infectieuses -- Périodiques; Communicable diseases; Immunology; Microbiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.08969
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.05.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-9571

Abstract

Highlights: The effect of Immulant® (IMU) on the responses of AI H9N2 vaccine in stressed chickens was evaluated. The oxidative stress, immunological and histopathological lesions were significantly changed between VAC-DEX and VAC groups. Lower geometric mean HI titers and protection rate for H9N2 vaccine were appeared in VAC-DEX group than VAC group. Interestingly, 1% IMU increased heterophil phagocytic activity and reduced virus shedding titers and IHC staining. The 1% IMU for 6 weeks can enhance the immune response and reduce pathogenicity of AIV-H9N2 infection in stressed chickens. Abstract: Avian influenza vaccines are commonly used in the poultry industry, and some medicinal plants can increase the efficacy of such vaccines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Immulant ® (IMU) (a commercial product based on Echinacea and Nigella sativa ) on stress induced by dexamethasone (DEX) in chickens vaccinated (VAC) against the H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV-H9N2). Seven experimental groups were included: the negative control, VAC, DEX, VAC + DEX, VAC + DEX + IMU, VAC + IMU and IMU groups. The vaccinated chickens (at 10 days of age) were injected daily with DEX for three days pre-vaccination and for three days pre-challenge and orally administered 1% IMU for 6 weeks post-vaccination (PV). The chickens were then challenged intranasally with AIV-H9N2 at 28 days PV. Serum, blood, tracheal and cloacal swabs and tissue samples were collected in the 1 st and 4 th weeks PV and at different time points post-challenge. The results showed significant changes ( P ≤ 0.05) in oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide and reduced glutathione), haematological and immunological parameters, final live weights, relative organ weights and histopathological lesions between the VAC+DEX group and the VAC group. Moreover, IMU significantly increased protection rates post-challenge, HI antibody titers and heterophil phagocytic activity and decreased DEX-induced stress and virus shedding titers. In conclusion, oral administration of 1% IMU for six weeks can enhance the immune response after AI-H9N2 vaccination and reduce the pathogenicity of infection in stressed chickens.