The effect of aloe preparation and 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine on immunological and haematological indices of blood of turkey hens subjected to stress

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aloe extract or 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine on immunological and haematological indices during artificially induced stress in turkey hens. The experiment was carried out on 360 turkey hens (6 groups). The groups C and C+stress were the control groups and did not receive any additive. Birds from the groups A and A+stress were administered aloe extract at the amount of 0.70 ml/kg body weight (bw)/day. The turkey hens from the groups T and T+stress received 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine at the amount of 30 μg/kg bw/day. The additives were administered in the birds’ drinking water twice for 28 days (days 36–63 and 78–105) of the birds’ life. On days 61–63 and 103–105 a stress factor (simultaneous crowding and a change in temperature and lighting) was introduced in the groups C+stress, A+stress and T+stress for 1 hour a day. The results showed that the applied stress factors caused a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in the lysozyme level and % phagocytic cells, as well as a non-significant reduction in the metabolic activity of heterophils. Under the influence of stress an increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the percentage of monocytes and basophils was observed. The use of aloe preparation improved some indicators of immunity (increased, P ≤ 0.05, lysozyme and % phagocytic cells) in the turkey hens. To alleviate the negative effect of stress on immune reactions, supplementation of diets with aloe extract supplemented with resveratrol and vitamin C may be considered. Poultry, stressors, supplements, immunity The response of the immune system to stress may vary depending on the type and intensity of stress factors and the time of exposure. Stress conditions may inhibit or stimulate the immune response, change its type, and modulate autoimmune phenomena (Zimecki and Artym 2004). Stress factors can also modify the morphology of blood – both white blood cell and red blood cell indices (Qureshi et al. 2002). To counteract the adverse effects of stress on the defensive reactions and morphology of the blood of birds, it is advisable to use immunostimulating and biostimulating preparations, both synthetic and natural. Among natural immunostimulants, herbal preparations prepared from the coneflower, garlic, aloe and other plants have an important role in animal feeding (Ognik et al. 2013). The immunostimulatory properties of aloe extracts have been confirmed in studies on turkeys (Ognik and Sembratowicz 2012a). Improvements in haematological and immunological indices in turkeys have also been demonstrated for the newly-synthesized amidrazone derivative 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine (Ognik and Sembratowicz 2009). This compound exhibits anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal (in vitro analysis) properties (Modzelewska-Banachiewicz and Kaminska 2000). Taking into account the biological properties of aloe extracts and the newly synthesized amidrazone derivative 5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine, the aim of this study was to determine their effect on immunological and haematological indices during artificially induced stress in turkey hens. ACTA VET. BRNO 2015, 84: 365-371; doi:10.2754/avb201584040365 Address for correspondence: Katarzyna Ognik Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology Faculty of Animal and Breeding University of Life Sciences Ul Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland Phone: +48 81 445 69 31 E-mail: kasiaognik@poczta.fm http://actavet.vfu. cz/