The Effect of Organic Selenium Supplementation on the Broilers' Immune Response

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic selenium supplementation on the immune response of broilers vaccinated against coccidiosis, Infection Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) and Newcastle Diseases Virus (NDV). The study included three treatments (T), T1= control (inclusion of inorganic selenium in a basal diet), T2= basal diet + 0.2 ppm of organic selenium as selenomethionine and selenocysteine, T3= basal diet + 0.4 ppm of organic selenium as selenomethionine and selenocysteine. Birds supplemented with organic selenium showed higher numbers of CD3⁺cells in duodenum and less severe ileal lesions compared to birds in the control group. Organic selenium supplementationin the diet had no significant, except for 14 to 21 days of age, effect on broiler weight gain.