Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part A (2019)

Author(s): Amara Yousaf, MD Mehmood, Huma Anwar and Saud-ul-Hassan

Abstract: Avian influenza is highly contagious disease in commercial poultry and wild birds. The disease has been reported in broilers despite of extensive inactivated influenza virus immunization. The incriminating factors of killed vaccine failure might be sudden genetic reassortment in influenza virus or short life span of broilers. The current study is undertaken to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of commercially available probiotics to AI immunization in broilers. Total of 16 -day old broilers were divided into four groups. Probiotics administered by two routes, in their feed and drinking water. AI vaccinated birds of Group A and Group B were offered with Gutcare^TM in feed and Enterogermina® through water respectively. Whereas, group D was kept as non-vaccinated control. Blood samples collected on 20 and 40 day post vaccination were subjected for Heamagglutination Inhibition (HI) test. On 20^th day post vaccination anti influenza mean HI antibody titer of group A, B, C and D was 20+8.0, 20+8.0, 12+4.62 and 0.5+1.0. On 40^th day post vaccination anti influenza mean HI antibody titer of group A, B, C and D was 96+36.95, 64+0.0, 56+16 and 0+0.0. Antibody titer of Gutcare^TM was statistically higher as compare to Enterogermina® on 20^th and 40^th day post vaccination. Gutcare^TM given through feed showed significantly better effect to that of Enterogermina® offered in drinking water.