Efficacy of Echinacea purpurea and Protexin on systemic and mucosal immune response to Newcastle Diseases Virus vaccination (VG/GA strain) in commercial turkey poults

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand the efficacy of immunoregulatory materials, herbal remedies or probiotics, in different parts of immune system following vaccination with different tropism. OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Echinacea purpurea and a probiotic (protexin) on systemic and mucosal immune response in turkey. METHODS: A total of 288 1-day-old male turkey poults were randomized into 6 groups as follow: Group T1: Turkeys received Echinacea purpurea at the rate of 1 ml /1 liter water and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine, Group T2: Turkeys received probiotic at the rate of 1 g /1 liter water and NDV vaccine, Group T3: Positive control that turkey received NDV vaccine without any additives. Group T4: Turkeys received Echinacea purpurea at the rate of 1 ml /1 liter water without NDV vaccine. Group T5: Turkeys received probiotic at the rate of 1 g /1 liter water without NDV vaccine, Group T6: Negative control group, neither vaccinated against NDV vaccine nor given additives. At age of 10 and 20 days, poults were vaccinated with Villegas_Glisson/University of Georgia (VG/GA) strain of Newcastle disease vaccine by eye dropper method. For systemic and mucosal antibody analyses, blood samples and tracheal lavages were collected at different ages. The titers of antibody against NDV were measured using ELISA and HI tests. RESULTS: Addition of Echinacea to the water increased the systemic IgG, IgA and HI compared to the positive control group. Protexin supplementation to the water of T2 turkeys increased serum IgG and both total and specific IgA compared to the T3 group turkeys. Generally, turkeys that were supplemented with probiotic had higher specific and total tracheal IgA antibody levels than the other vaccinated groups. Among vaccinated turkeys only T1 group showed significantly higher HI antibody titers on day 42. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that systemic and mucosal immunity of turkeys following vaccination against Newcastle disease (ND) could be improved by supplementation of Echinacea and probiotic. The effect of Echinacea purpurea on systemic immunity of turkeys seemed more pronounced than on mucosal immunity; further, the effect of probiotic on mucosal immunity was more obvious.