Studies on stress induced effects in broilers following vaccination (Hydro-poultry) against hydropericardium syndrome

The project was aimed at determining the vaccination stress follow hydropericardium syndrome vaccine (hydro-poultry vaccine, simple vaccine, Adenovirus type-4 Pak) by subcutaneous route under wing at 12th day of age and comparative efficacy of multivitamins and aspirin to combat it. One hundred and seventy-day old broiler chicks were divided into four groups i.e. A, B, C and D having 40 birds each. Ten-day old broiler chicks were used for collection of blood sample by cardiac puncture for detection of maternal antibody titre. Birds were kept for the period of 42 days. The birds of group A served as unvaccinated, unchallenged control. Group B was given vaccine and no treatment. Group C was given vaccine and multivitamins for 3 days post- vaccination group D was given vaccine and aspirin for 3 days post vaccination. Blood samples were collected from 10 randomly selected birds from each group at different post vaccination (Against HPS) periods i. e. 24, 48 and 72 hrs for serum biochemical analysis and 10 birds from each group at 14th, 28th and 42nd days for determining antibody response, against hydropericardium syndrome. 10 birds of each group were slaughtered on 42 days for collection of adrenal glands. The following parameters were studied (i) determination of heterophil/ lymphocyte ratio (ii) estimation of serum biochemical analysis (Total Serum Protein, serum glucose, and serum cholesterol) (iii) determination of adrenal body weight ratio (iv) gross pathological and histopathological examination of adrenal glands (v) estimation of antibody response against hydropericardium syndrome vaccine. Inactivated virus vaccine against hydropericardium was unable to induce any stress in broiler chicks and the above mentioned parameters can act as a' good indicators for detection of vaccination stress to some extent. Multivitamins played a minor role in improving the condition of bird whereas, aspirin did not seems to be muc h effective in this study.