An experiment was conducted on 100 day in old broiler chicks to study the immunosuppressive potential of Argemone mexicana seeds toxicity. Toxicity was induced by administrating crushed Argemone seeds @ 5, 10,20 and 30 grams per Kg of feed in treatment groups Tl, T2, T3 and T4 respectively whereas the Control group was maintained on the normal feed. The birds in the treatment groups showed the symptoms like dullness, depression and ruffled feathers. The body weight gain (BWG) was poor in comparison to control. The lymphoid organ to body weight ratio, HI titers and percentage of active macrophage were found significantly reduced. The histopathological lesions revealed marked lymphoid depletion indicaive of immunosuppressive potential ofArgemone seeds.

The level of antibody by ELISA,immunsosuppressive effect baes on the response of birds to Newcastle disease vaccination and damage to bursa of Fabricius by IBD vaccination were studied. The efficacy of six different IBD vaccination schedules were studied using intermediate and intermediate plus strains of vaccines either alone or in combination. In vaccinated groups, the sero-conversion of the vaccine virus was noticed during fourth week, reaching to the peak between eight to twelve weeks of age in different groups. Afterwards, there was a gradual decrease in the titres, by the end of 20th week (maximum period tested). There was no significant difference in the titres of different treatment groups. However, all the groups showed titres above protective level during the entire period of study. There was significant difference in bursa body weight (B-BW) ratios of vaccinated groups in comparison with control group. Histopathological studies of bursal sections revealed depletion of lymphoid follicles, presence of cystic spaces, edema and hemorrhages. The birds vaccinated with hot strain of IBD vaccine showed metaplastic changes, presence of foam cells with pronounced interfollicular fibrosis. The bursal scores were maximum in the groups vaccinated with hot strains of IBD vaccines.