Effect of In Ovo supplemented silver nanoparticles on the gut morphology and hemato-serological parameters in broiler chickens

In ovo administration of silver nano particles (AgNPs), 50 μg/egg (T1) was carried out in 18d embryonated eggs (n=200) for assessing it's role in gut morphology and hemato-serological parameters. Additionally, one sham control (injected placebo, T2) and un- injected control group (T3) of 200 fertile eggs each were also maintained to evaluate the effect of AgNPs. In 14^th and 21^st day old T1 chicks, the villus height and villus width in duodenum was higher but not significant in comparison to control group chicks. The villus height to crypt depth ratio was 6.81 μm in 21 day old duodenum samples from T1 chicks, which was lower than the T2 and T3 groups. In jejunum samples, the villus height was lower in T1 chicks than T2 and T3, both at 14^th and 21 day age. No difference was found in the hematological parameters at different periods between the chicks from different treatment groups. The serum total protein values in T1 chicks at day old, 7^th day and 14^th day age were insignificantly higher than T2 and T3 chicks. However, no difference was observed in the serum total cholesterol, SGOT and SGPT values among the treatment groups. Hence, from the present study it is concluded that in ovo administration of AgNps at 18^th embryonic day, had no effect on gut morphology and different hemato-serological traits in broiler chickens.