Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the immune modulating effect of Moringa Oleifera Leave (MOL) feed supplementation in broilers. 240 day old Ross 308 hybrid broiler chicks were assigned into four groups (A, B, C and D) of 60 chicks each in a deep litter house. Groups A and B were fed with formulated broiler starter and broiler finisher feeds containing 5% MOL for 28 and 21 days, respectively, while groups C and D were fed with formulated broiler starter and broiler finisher feed without MOL for 28 and 21 days, respectively. Broilers in groups A and C were vaccinated intramuscularly with 0.5 ml of an inactivated vaccine of intermediate strain of Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) at 14 and 21 days of age, respectively. Broilers in groups A, B and C were challenged intraocularly at 35 days of age with 0.05 ml of a live very virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (vvIBDV). The Thymus to Body Index (TBI) of birds in group A was 1.09, 1.05 and 1.03 at 35, 38 and 42 days of age respectively, while those in group B had a TBI of 0.84, 1.02 and 0.89 at 35, 38 and 42 days of age respectively. The TBI of birds in group C were 1.04, 1.22 and 1.29 at 35, 38 and 42 days of age respectively, however, there was significant difference between group B and C (P< 0.02). Moringa oleifera leaves feed supplementation improved the bursa, spleen, harderian and thymus to body weight index of broilers. The MOL feed supplementation and inactivated vaccine did not prevent the atrophy of bursa, spleen and harderian gland against the negative effect of vvIBDV 7 days post infection.

Authors and Affiliations