IMMUNOSTIMULATORY EFFECTS OF SOME FEED SUPPLEMENTS ON LAYING CHICKEN IMMUNIZED WITH LASOTA VACCINE FOR NEWCASTLE DISEASE

This study attempts to demonstrate the use of dietary supplements to enhance the HI titre value, WBC count and lymphocytes of laying hens immunized with LaSota vaccine for Newcastle disease. Different dosages of Lactobacillus acidophyllus, Andrographis paniculata and Sargassum wightii were given to separate groups of similar aged laying hens once in a week and the birds were vaccinated with Lasota vaccine in the ocular route one week before the beginning of the experiment. HI titre, ELISA titre, RBC, WBC, haemoglobin, heterophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes were estimated from the blood samples and IgY in eggs. These dietary supplements had increased the HI titre, ELISA titre, WBC, lymphocytes and monocytes that give immediate protection against NCD and also increased the bird?s health by increasing the RBC and haemoglobin and reducing the level of eosinophils. This study recommends the use of 105 cells of Lactobacilli or 2 grams of Andrographis powder or 2 grams of Sargassum powder (per kg feed) once in a week for chicken to improve their overall health and immunity of fowls vaccinated with LaSota vaccine for giving complete protection against Newcastle disease.