Immuno-modulation under synbiotic supplementation in coloured broilers

The effects of probiotics and prebiotics feeding on immune response of broilers were assessed. Three hundred and fifty coloured synthetic male line (CSML) broiler chicks of both sexes were divided into five groups of 70 each and fed four experimental diets with different doses (5, 10, 15 gm/100 kg feed) of multistrain probiotic mainly Lactobacillus species with single dose (3 ml/l of water) of prebiotic (β-glucans and mannan oligosaccharides) initially at 3 to 7 days of age and then twice till the end of experimental period (52 week). Control group received basal diet with antibiotic. The humoral immune response was assessed by estimating the antibody response to ND vaccine using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and titres were transformed into log 2 values. Lymhocyte proliferation assay (LPA) was employed to assay the cell mediated immune (CMI) response as stimulation index. Dynamics of immune profile during the productive period were compared and significant (P < 0.05) differences among dietary groups were observed at 2, 6, 12, 21 and 38 weeks of age. Birds from pro and prebiotic groups showed higher CMI response at 14, 21, 56, 70, and 140 and 154 day of age. Relative weights of bursa and spleen at 21 and 35 d were also significantly (P < 0.05) higher in pro and prebiotic supplemented groups than control. It could be concluded that regular use of probiotic can influence the immune competence of birds however, responses were even higher along with prebiotic.