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Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and immune responses in poultry

Three experiments were conducted to study the influence of dietary fatty acids
on the production performance and immune response of chickens. In experiment I,
forty day-old broiler chicks were fed diets containing 5% of either animal fat +
conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (Diet I), sunflower oil (Diet II), flax oil (Diet III) or
fish oil (Diet IV). No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed between the live
weight of birds. The liver tissue total fat content was lower (P<0.05) in treatment I and
II. The fatty acid composition of breast and thigh muscle, liver, heart, pericardial fat,
plasma, splenocytes and gut associated lymphoid tissue differed (P<0.05) between
treatments. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of breast and thigh
muscle, liver and heart tissue were lower (P<0.05) in Diet I fed birds. Serum antibody
activity was decreased (P<0.05) in Diet II fed birds.
In experiment II, 120 day-old broiler chicks were fed diets containing 3.5% of
either animal fat + conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (Diet I), sunflower oil (Diet II),
linseed oil (Diet III) or fish oil (Diet IV). Body weight gain was higher (P<0.05) in
Diets III and IV compared to Diets I and II fed birds. Feed intake was increased
(P<0.05) in Diet IV fed birds. Birds fed Diets III and IV had higher (P<0.05) n-3 fatty
acids in all tissues studied. A preferential incorporation of CLA was observed in
spleen mononuclear cells. TBARS were higher (P<0.05) in the breast and thigh
muscle of Diet IV fed birds. Serum anti-BSA antibody content was higher (P<0.05) in
birds fed Diets III and IV. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was
increased (P<0.05) in Diets IV and III fed birds. Lymphocyte and spleen mononuclear
cell CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and IgM⁺ cell population did not differ (P>0.05) among treatments.
In experiment III, 120 layer birds were fed diets containing 3% of
CLA+animal fat (Diet I), sunflower oil (Diet II), canola+flax oil (Diet III) or fish oil
(Diet IV). Egg production, feed consumption and feed efficiency did not differ
(P>0.05) among treatments. Birds fed Diets III and IV had higher content of n-3 fatty
acids in eggs. Eggs from hens fed Diet I incorporated higher (P<0.05) CLA and
saturated fatty acids with a concomitant reduction in (P<0.05) monounsaturated fatty
acid content. A preferential incorporation of CLA was observed in eggs over other
tissues. TBARS were higher (P<0.05) in breast and thigh muscle of Diet IV fed birds.
Egg TBARS content did not differ (P>0.05) among treatments. Serum and yolk anti-BSA antibody contents were higher (P<0.05) in birds fed Diets III and IV. DTH
response was increased (P<0.05) in Diets IV and III fed birds. Lymphocyte and spleen
mononuclear cell CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and IgM⁺ cell population did not differ (P>0.05) among
treatments. Feeding n-3 fatty acids increased antibody mediated immune response
while n-6 fatty acids and CLA increased cell mediated immune response. / Graduation date: 2003

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/30234
Date29 August 2002
CreatorsSelvaraj, Ramesh Kumar
ContributorsCherian, Gita
Source SetsOregon State University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis/Dissertation

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