The effect of zinc on cellular response in chicks to Newcastle disease viral infection

A feeding trial was conducted using 80 day-old VENCOB broiler chicks to assess the cellular immune response for immunomodulatory property of dietary zinc in chicks to Newcastle viral infection. The cellular immune response of birds did not vary (p<0.01) between low (25 mg) and optimum (75 and 100 mg), zinc diets. Even though the histological changes of thymus to show mild lymphoid depletion this was not reflected on the cellular immune response against Newcastle virus may not be attributed to dietary zinc.