Journal of Immunology and Immunopathology

Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) was induced experimentally in broiler chickens to assess role of Vitamin E supplementation on immune response. Immune response was assessed by delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), gross changes and histopathological lesions in lymphoid organs. HPS infected chickens had decreased ability to elicit DTH response as evidenced by skin thickness and cellular reaction of DTH positive skin sections indicating decrease in cell mediated immune (CMI) response. Vitamin E supplementation @ 150 mg/kg in HPS infected chicken resulted in marked, though incomplete restoration of DTH response. Pathological studies revealed that HPS caused depletion of lymphocytes in bursa of Fabricius, spleen and thymus. When Vitamin E was supplemented to HPS infected chickens, no lesions could be noticed in these organs. It is concluded that supplementation of Vitamin E in feed in HPS infected chickens resulted in enhanced immune response suggesting its immunomodulatory activity.