Effect of Withania somnífera Root Powder Administration on Immune Responses in Lead Intoxicated Chickens

One-hundred-and-fifty-day-old broiler chicks were divided into 5 groups of 30 birds each. Group I was kept as control. Groups II and III were administered at 250 ppm and 400 ppm lead as lead acetate in triple glass distilled water, respectively. Groups IV and V were administered at 250 ppm and 400 ppm lead in triple glass distilled water along with Withania somnifera root powder (WSRP) in standard recommended feed at the rate of 1% concentration from 2 weeks of age till 60 days post-treatment. All the birds were vaccinated for Ranikhet disease at 5th, 21st and 45th day of age manufactured by Indovax Pvt. Ltd., Hisar. Both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were assessed using haemagglutination inhibition test and lymphocyte stimulation test. Both the HIR and CMI studies indicated that there was a significant decline in HIR and CMI in groups II and III as compared with group I. Both HIR and CMI showed an insignificant variation in group IV and V. Immune responses were lowest in group III followed by groups II, V and IV when compared with group I. These results showed that WSRP treatment significantly ameliorates the effect of lead administration at the rate of 250 ppm and 400 ppm on immune responses in chickens.