Immunological and Physiological Differences Between Layer- and Broiler Chickens after Concurrent Intratracheal Administration of Lipopolysaccharide and Human Serum Albumin

Abstract

Layers and broilers were concurrently intratracheally challenged with 0.5 mg Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 0.1 mg Human Serum Albumin (HuSA) at 3 weeks of age. Specific total and isotype-specific (IgM, IgG, IgA) Antibody (Ab) responses to HuSA during 3 weeks following immunization, cellular in vitro mitogen responses to Concanavalin A (Con A) and specific cellular responses in vitro to different dosages of HuSA, blood serotonin (5-HT) levels, plasma Corticosterone (CORT) levels at 6 weeks of age and ex vivo nitric oxide (NO) production in the presence of LPS, respectively, were measured in all birds. Higher in vitro cellular responses to HuSA, but not Con A, were found in the broilers than in the layers. Also higher total, IgM and IgG antibody responses to HuSA were found in the broilers. Higher ex vivo NO production was found in the layers. A heavier spleen weight was found in the broilers, but relative spleen weight was higher in the layers. The broilers grew much heavier and also maintained a higher growth during the first 24 and 48 h after i.t. challenge with LPS and HuSA. No breed effect was found for body temperature responses after i.t. challenge. Blood 5-HT levels and plasma CORT levels were significantly higher in the layers. Number and type of significant correlations between 5-HT levels, cachectin response to LPS, antibody levels and cellular immunity differed between breeds. Our data suggest comparable immune responses to i.t. HuSA challenge in broilers and layers of similar age and confirm the earlier reported higher humoral immune response in broilers. On the other hand, the cachectin response to LPS differed between broilers and layers. Our results do not confirm the earlier reported higher cellular immune response of layers. Different significant relationships between physiological parameters in broilers and layers were found. Our results suggest that selection for enhanced growth does not necessarily affect specific immune competence of poultry.

Efficacy of Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Synbiotics on Laying Hens and Broilers Challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis

“…This difference in SE recovery between hens and broilers most likely occurred because there were differences in immune responses eventually promoted by growth rates. These findings were in agreement with Parmentier et al (2010), who suggested that a higher body weight in broilers negatively affected the immune humoral response, while the genetic changes of layers toward egg production had less negative impact on the birds' immune systems. In addition, a more consistent and permanent immune response has been observed in laying hens compared to broilers (Koenen et al, 2002).…”

Training of Primary Chicken Monocytes Results in Enhanced Pro-Inflammatory Responses

“…More research on, for example, cytokine production, metabolic mechanisms, and epigenetic changes will be of great value to understand the mechanisms behind trained innate immunity in chickens. Innate immune training may have potential to improve disease resistance of poultry in a nonspecific manner, especially at a young age when the adaptive immune system has not yet fully developed [13,[45][46][47]. Dietary additives or vaccinations based on β-glucan could potentially be applied in vivo to train innate immune cells and improve resistance to a variety of pathogens.…”

“…NO production was measured 48 h after the primary and secondary stimulation ( Figure 1). NO was indirectly measured by quantifying the production of the more stable nitrite (NO 2 − ), using the Griess reaction assay as previously described [12,13] concentration was determined by measuring the optical density at 540 nm with a spectrophotometer (Thermo scientific, Multiscan™). The results were interpolated on a standard curve made by serial diluting a sodium nitrite solution (NaNO 2 ) in the range from 100 µM to 0 µM.…”

Impact of Housing Environment on the Immune System in Chickens: A Review

“…Some strains of chicken are generally considered to be more fearful than others and show a higher stress response to environmental stimuli [62]. Layers and broilers were also shown to differ regarding the distribution of immune cells and strength of cellular and humoral immune response [206][207][208]. Thus, selective breeding presents an interesting, complementary possibility to increase vaccine efficacy and disease resistance by using heritable traits like the concentration of natural antibodies [209].…”