Response of lymphatic tissues to natural feed additives, curcumin (Curcuma longa) and black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa), in broilers against Pasteurella multocida

Abstract

The antibiotic residues and pathogenic resistance against the drug are very common in poultry because of antibiotics used in their feed. It is necessary to use natural feed additives as effective alternatives instead of a synthetic antibiotic. This study aimed to investigate the immune response of Nigella sativa and Curcuma longa in broilers under biological stress against Pasteurella multocida. The total 100, one-day-old chicks were divided into 5 groups. Groups 1 and 2 served as control negative and control positive. Both control groups were receiving simple diet without any natural feed additives, but the infection was given in group 2 at day 28 with the dose of 5.14 × 10⁷ CFU by IV. Groups 3A and 3B were offered 2% seed powder of Nigella sativa, groups 4A and 4B were offered C. longa 1% in powdered form, and group 5A and 5B were offered both C. longa 1% and N. sativa 2% in the feed from day 1 and groups 3B, 4B, and 5B were challenged with P. multocida. The haemagglutination inhibition titter against Newcastle Disease virus (NDV), feed conversion ratio, mortality, gross, and histopathology were studied. The results of this study revealed that hemagglutination inhibition titers against NDV were highly significant (P < 0.05) in treated groups, highest titers (3A, 6.8; 3B, 6.4; and 5A, 7.2) were obtained from treated Groups. The feed conversion ratio of N. sativa + C. longa treated groups (5A, 1.57, and 3A, 1.76) were higher than that of other nontreated groups. The gross and histopathological changes were much severe in control positive, but fewer changes were seen in treated groups. Therefore, we recommend that natural feed additives, black cumin (N. sativa) and turmeric (C. longa), act as an immune enhancer in broilers against P. multocida.

Keywords: Curcuma longa; Nigella sativa; feed conversion ratio; gross pathological change; histopathological change.

Figure 1

Estimated marginal mean titer of each group, which are highly significant (P < 0.05) from each other.

Figure 2

Cumulative feed consumption, average weight gain, and FCR each group were highly significant (P < 0.05) from each other.

Figure 3

Gross pathological changes. (A) Group 2 showing numerous, small, irregular-shaped yellow necrotic foci on liver; (B) group 2 showing hemorrhages on heart; (C) group 2 representing caseous material in joints; (D) group 2 representing the swelling of sternal bursa; (E) group 4B representing enlarged, swollen, cooked appearance, and petechial hemorrhages on the liver; (F) group 4B showing hemorrhages on heart.

Figure 4

Group 1, control negative group (no feed additives + no infection). (A) Liver section normal; (B) spleen section normal; (C) lungs section normal.

Figure 5

Group 2, control positive (no feed additives + infection); (A) liver section showing congestion, infiltration of inflammatory cell, fatty changes and coagulative necrosis of hepatocyte can also be seen; (B) spleen section showing hyperemia and congestion; (C) spleen section showing congestion, hyperemia, atrophy of cell, dead tissue accumulation, blast cell accumulation, degeneration and necrosis of parenchyma; (D) lungs section showing (A) engorgement of blood vessel with RBCs, (B) congestion of RBCs in mesobronchus; (E) lungs section showing (A) pulmonary odema, (B) infiltration of heterophils, (C) sloughing of epithelium.

Figure 6

Group 3B (Infection + Nigella sativa), (A) morphology of liver section is normal; (B) spleen section of morphology of all cells is normal; (C) Lungs section morphology of all cell is normal.

Figure 7

Group 4B (Infection + Curcuma longa); (A) liver section representing a mild congestion and mild fatty change; (B) spleen section representing a mild congestion; (C) lungs section representing a mild congestion.

Figure 8

Group 5B (Infection + Curcuma longa + Nigella sativa); (A) normal liver section; (B) spleen section representing a normal section; (C) lungs section representing a normal section.