The effects of different levels of Aloe vera gel on ileum microflora population and immune response in broilers: a comparison to antibiotic effects

Figures & data

Table 1. The ileum microflora population of broilers fed with Aloe vera gel and antibiotic.

Groups	Counts of E. coli (log10 CFU/g)	Counts of Lactobacillus (log10 CFU/g)
CON	7.18^a	4.63^b
1.5% A.V	4.36^bc	5.82^a
2% A.V	4.26^c	5.88^a
2.5% A.V	4.19^c	6.02^a
15 ppm VM	4.44^b	4.69^b
SEM	0.32	0.35
Note: Means with different superscripts within the column are significantly different (P<0.05).
CON, control; A.V, Aloe vera gel; VM, virginiamycin.

Table 2. The humoral immune response of broilers fed with Aloe vera gel and antibiotic.

	Antibody response to SRBC (log2)				Antibody response to NDV (log2)
Groups	24 days	28 days	34 days	38 days	24 days	38 days
CON	1.75^b	4.75^b	6.62^bc	11.25	1.75^c	1.62^c
1.5% A.V	3.25^a	5.50^ab	7.37^a	11.12	2.12^bc	2.25^bc
2% A.V	3.25^a	6.12^a	7.25^ab	11.50	2.5^b	3.62^a
2.5% A.V	3.37^a	6.25^a	7.50^a	11.87	3.12^a	3.25^a
15 ppm VM	3.12^a	4.87^b	6.50^b	10.62	2.62^ab	2.37^b
SEM	0.159	0.245	0.200	0.364	0.182	0.222
Note: Means with different superscripts within the column are significantly different (P<0.05).
CON, control; A.V, Aloe vera gel; VM, virginiamycin; SRBC, sheep red blood cells; NDV, Newcastle disease virus.

Table 3. The cellular immune response and relative weight of lymphoid organs of broilers fed with Aloe vera gel and antibiotic.

		Relative lymphoid organ weights (g/100 g body weight)
	Increase in skin thickness (mm) to PHA-P	Spleen	Bursa
Groups	38 days	42 days	42 days
CON	0.50^c	0.072^a	0.094^b
1.5% A.V	0.70^ab	0.102^a	0.110^ab
2% A.V	0.63^b	0.101^a	0.122^a
2.5% A.V	0.78^a	0.109^a	0.128^a
15 ppm VM	0.44^c	0.077^b	0.097^b
SEM	0.036	0.0043	0.0297
Note: Means with different superscripts within the column are significantly different (P<0.05). CON, control; A.V, Aloe vera gel; VM, virginiamycin; PHA-P, phytohemagglutinin-P.