Effect of Dietary Arginine and Vitamin E on Humoral and Cell Mediated Immune Response in Experimental T-2 Mycotoxicosis in Broiler Chicken

Day old 144 broiler chicks were randomly divided into 6 groups. Groups I, II, III and IV received 0.0, 0.25, 0.50 and 1ppm of dietary T-2 toxin respectively. Arginine (22 g/ kg) and vitamin E (80 mg/kg) were supplemented to Groups V and VI which respectively had 0.0 and 1 ppm of dietary T-2 toxin. The test diets were fed for 0-28 days. On day 28, humoral immunity was measured as an antibody response to B1 strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). CMI response was assessed by measuring percent CD4+ and CD8+ cells in peripheral blood and by measuring delayed foot web reaction (DFWR) to kill S. aureus antigen in sensitised birds at different post challenge intervals. A significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease both in HI titres to NDV and percent CD4+, CD8+ cells was noticed in Group IV whereas the decrease was seen only for HI titres in Group III. A significantly (P ≤ 0.05) high HI titres and percent CD4+ cells was observed in Group V whereas HI titres, percent CD4+, CD8+ cells were similar to control in Group VI birds. The foot web thickness peaked at 24h post challenge. A reduction in DFWR was significant (P ≤ 0.05) in Group IV but was similar in Group VI when compared to control birds. The study revealed that dietary inclusion of T-2 toxin for 0-28 days was immunotoxic to broiler chickens at levels equal and higher than 0.5ppm. Dietary ARG and VE supplementation above the recommended NRC levels was found to be immunostimulatory.