The growth promoting and immunostimulant effects of levamisole hydrochloride on broiler chicks

Figures & data

Table 1.: The physical and chemical composition of basal diet.

Physical composition			Chemical composition
Ingredients (g/kg)	Feed type		Items	Feed type
	Starter 1–21 day	Grower -Finisher 22–37 day		Starter 1–21 day	Grower-Finisher 22–37 day
Yellow corn	542	558.8	Dry matter	8680	8740
Soybean meal (44%)	324	260	Crude protein	2210	1934
Corn gluten meal (60%)	55	54	ME(MJ /kg diet)	126.9	130.3
Vegetable oil	30	30	Crude fat	521	613
Limestone	11	11.2	Crude fiber	470	433
dicalcium phosphate	175	15	Ash	525	553
Nacl	3	3	Methionine	69	60
Vitamins permix^a	1.5	1.5
Trace mineral permix^b	1.5	1.5
DL-Methionine	3.1	3
L-Lysine	3.4	2.9

^aEach 1 Kilogram contains: Retinol 4799.04 mg, cholecalciferol 50 mg, alpha-tocopherol 26,666.67 mg, Vitamin K3 2000 mg, Vitamin B1 1333 mg, Vitamin B2 4000 mg, Vitamin B6 3333 mg, Vitamin B12 13 mg, Niacin 30,000 mg, Biotin 50 mg, Folic acid 1333 mg and Pantothenic acid 8000 mg.

^bEach 1 Kilogram contains: Manganese 66,666 mg, Zinc 400,000 mg, Iron 20,000 mg, Copper 6666 mg, Iodine 666 mg, Selenium 133 mg and Cobalt 66 mg.

Table 2. Growth performance parameters of broiler chickens as affected by dietary supplementation of levamisoleHcl. aN = 60.

Parameters	Experimental groups
	Non experimental (control) group	Experimental (LMS) group
Initial body weight (g/chick)	42.08±0.18^a	42.62±0.24^a
Performance parameters at the end of starter period (0–21 days):
Body weight (g/chick)	743.84±4.99^b	843±10.57^a
Body gain (g/chick)	701.90±4.83^b	775.89±18.42^a
Feed intake (g/chick)	1048.9	1008.5
Feed conversion ratio	1.49±0.01^a	1.30±0.03^b
Performance parameters at the end of grower-finisher period (22–37 days):
Body weight (g/chick)	2265.6±13.20^b	2424.87±22.93^a
Body gain (g/chick)	1501.22±19.35^b	1619.26±18.55^a
Feed intake (g/chick)	2092.3	2025.8
Feed conversion ratio	1.40±0.03^b	1.26±0.014^a
Performance parameters of whole experimental period (0–37 days):
Final body weight (g/chick)	2265.6±13.20^b	2424.87±22.93^a
Total body gain (g/chick)	2224.10±13.12^b	2383.12±22.83^a
Total feed intake (g/chick)	3141.2	3034.3
Average feed conversion ratio	1.41±0.01^a	1.28±0 .01^b

^aValues are means ± standard errors. ‘Means carrying different letters with the same raw’ are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05).

Table 3. Hematological parameters of broiler chicken as affected by dietary supplementation of levamisoleHcl. aN = 15.

Parameters	Experimental groups
	Non experimental group	Experimental (LMS) group
At 3^rd week of chicks age
PCV %	23.33±0.23^b	25.80±0.50^a
Hb %	10.20±0.054^b	10.56±0.10^a
RBCs 10^6 /cm	2.59±0.02^a	2.59±0.03^a
WBCs 10^3/cm	5.43±0.11^b	11.76±0.18^a
At 5^th week of chicks age
PCV %	22.33±0.08^b	25.60±0.24^a
Hb %	9.73±0.07^b	10.40±0.11^a
RBCs 10^6 /cm	2.44±0.01^a	2.41±0.02183^a
WBCs 10^3/cm	5.280±0.76^b	14.05±0.32^a

^aValues are means ± standard errors. ‘Means carrying different letters with the same raw’ are significantly different (P˂0.05). PCV = Packed Cell Volume, Hb = Hemoglobin RBCs = Red Blood Corpuscles, WBCs = White Blood Corpuscles

Table 4. Serum biochemical changes of broiler chickens as affected by dietary LMS supplementation. aN = 15.

Parameters	Experimental groups
	Non experimental group	Experimental group
At 3^rd week of chicks age
Total serum proteins (g/dl)	2.50±0.06^a	2.51±0.08^a
Serum albumin (g/dl)	1.50±0.05^a	1.60±0.04^a
Serum globulin (g/dl)	0.92±0.08^a	0.88±0.08^a
albumin/globulin ratio	2.10±0.19^a	2.37±0.31^a
ALT (U/L)	33.20±0.49^a	32.60±0.85^a
AST (U/L)	64.00±0.63^a	64.80±1.08^a
ALP (U/L)	39.60±0.60^a	40.00±2.00^a
Serum urea (mg/dl)	5.33±0.67^a	4.60±0.58^b
Serum creatinine (mg/dl)	0.80±0.01^a	0 .58±0.02^b
Serum triglycerides (mg/dl)	95.31±1.97^a	85.20±1.72^b
Serum cholesterol (mg/dl)	165.00±1.70^a	123.00±1.36^b
Total bilirubin (mg/dl)	0.20±0.00^a	0.11±0.01^b
At 5^th week of chicks age
Total serum proteins (g/dl)	2.60±0.01^a	2.52±0.06^a
Serum albumin (g/dl)	1.71±0.02^a	1.71±0.03^a
Serum globulin (g/dl)	0.89±0.09^a	0.82±0.06^a
albumin/globulin ratio	2.19±0.13^a	2.39±0.22^a
ALT (U/L)	31.40±1.17^a	30.50±0.60^a
AST (U/L)	65.00±3.79^a	62.60±2.06^a
ALP (U/L)	34.40±0.98^a	33.80±0.74^a
Serum urea (mg/dl)	5.33±0.67 ^a	4.60±0.56^b
Serum creatinine (mg/dl)	0.80±0.01^a	0.58±0.02^a
Serum triglycerides (mg/dl)	95.31±1.97^a	85.20±1.72^a
Serum cholesterol (mg/dl)	165.00±1.69^a	123.00±1.36^b
Total bilirubin (mg/dl)	0.20±0.00^a	0.11±0.01^b

^aValues are means ± standard errors. ‘Means carrying different letters with the same raw’ are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). ALT = Alanin Aminotransferase, AST = Aspartate Aminotransferase, ALP = Alkaline Phosphatase.

Table 5. Antibody titer and phagocytosis of broiler chickens as affected by dietary supplementation of LMS aN = 15.

Parameters	LMS supplementation
	Non experimental group	Experimental group
Antibody (HI.) titer against Newcastle disease
On day 14 of the experiment	7.00±0.00^b	8.00±0.15^a
On day 21 of the experiment	8.00±0.00^b	8.60±0.12^a
On day 28 of the experiment	8.10±0.09^a	7.90±0. 12^a
On day 35 of the experiment	7.31±0.17^b	8.60±0.12^a
Phagocytosis
Phagocytic activity %	31.5±0.37^b	36.31±0.23^a
Phagocytic index	1.61±0.00^a	1.63±0.04^a

^aValues are means ± standard errors. ‘Means carrying different letters with the same raw’ are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). HI = Hemagglutination inhibition test.

Table 6. Shows the immune organs index of broiler chickens as affected by dietary LMS supplementation. aN = 15.

	Experimental groups
Parameters	Non experimental group	Experimental group
At 3^rd week of chicks age
Spleen relative weight	0.10±0.03^a	0.08±0.013^a
Bursa relative weight	0.09±0.01^b	0.16±0.02^a
Thymus relative weight	0.28±.01^b	0.35±0.02^a
At 5^th week of chicks age
Spleen relative weight	0.09±0.02^a	0.09±0.01^a
Bursa relative weight	0.07±0.002^a	0.07±0.002^a
Thymus relative weight	0.33±0.04^b	0.42±0.03^a

^aValues are means ± standard errors. ‘Means carrying different letters with the same raw’ are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05).

Figure 1. The effect of daily oral administration of levamisoleHcl. (2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) in broiler chicks on bursa of Fabricius: (a): Bursa of Fabricius of chicken of control chicken (at 21 days of the experiment). Figure (b): Bursa of Fabricius of a chicken treated with levamisole Hcl. (at a dose of 2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) (at 21 days of the experiment) (c): Bursa of Fabricius of chicken of control chicken (at 35 days of the experiment). (d): Bursa of Fabricius of a chicken supplemented with levamisole Hcl. (at a dose of 2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) (at 35 days of the experiment) .

Note: showing normal bursal follicles filled with lymphocytes (arrows), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm. Note: showing mild lymphoid hyperplasia of the marginal layers of the lymphoid follicle (arrows), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm. Note: showing normal bursal follicles filled with lymphocytes (arrows), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm. Note: showing mild degree of lymphoid depletion (arrows), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm.

Figure 2. The effect of daily oral administration of levamisoleHcl. (2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) in broiler chicks on thymus: (a): Thymus of chicken of control chicken (at 21 days of the experiment). (b): Thymus of a chicken treated with levamisole Hcl. (at a dose of 2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) (at 21 days of the experiment) (c): Thymus of a chicken of control chicken (at 35 days of the experiment). (d): Thymus of a chicken treated with levamisole (at a dose of 2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) (at 35 days of the experiment).

Note: showing normal thymic compartments filled with thymocytes (arrow), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm. Note: showing increase the thymocytes content within the thymic compartments (arrow indicates thymocytes), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm. Note: showing normal thymic compartments filled with thymocytes (arrow), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm. Note: showing thymic hyperplasia (arrow indicates dense thymocytes), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm.

Figure 3. The effect of daily oral administration of levamisoleHcl. (2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) on broiler chicks on spleen: (a): Spleen of chicken of control chicken (at 21 days of the experiment). (b): Spleen of a chicken supplemented with levamisole Hcl. (at a dose of 2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) (at day 21 of the experiment) (c): Spleen of a chicken of control chicken (at 35 days of the experiment). (d): Spleen of a chicken treated with levamisole Hcl. (at a dose of 2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) (at 35 days of the experiment) .

Note: showing normal lymphoid follicles (arrow), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm. Note: showing lymphoid hyperplasia (arrow indicates dense lymphocytes around the central arteriole), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm. Note: showing normal lymphoid follicles (arrow), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm. Note: showing lymphoid hyperplasia (arrow indicates dense lymphocytes), H&E, X200, bar = 100 µm.

Figure 4. The effect of daily oral administration of levamisoleHcl. (2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) in broiler on intestinal villi: (a): Intestinal villi of chicken of control chicken (at 21 days of the experiment). (b): Intestinal villi of a chicken treated with levamisole Hcl. (at a dose of 2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) (at 21 days of the experiment). (c): Intestinal villi of a chicken of control chicken (at 35 days of the experiment). (d): Intestine of a chicken treated with levamisole Hcl. (at a dose of 2.5 mg./ml. in drinking water) (at 35 days of the experiment) .

Note: showing normal intestinal villi length, H&E, X40, bar = 200 µm. Note: showing marked increase the intestinal villi length, H&E, X40, bar = 200 µm. Note: showing marked increase the intestinal villi length, H&E, X40, bar = 200 µm. Note: showing normal intestinal villi length, H&E, X40, bar = 200 µm.

Table 7. Intestinal histopathology (ileum section) of broiler chickens as affected by dietary supplementation of LMS *N = 15.

Parameters	Experimental groups
	Non experimental group	Experimental group
At 3^rd week of chicks age
Villi height (VH) (µm)	1596.76±7.20^b	2293.97±6.54^a
Villi width (µm)	147.90±2.71^b	230.99±4.87^a
Crypt depth (CD) (µm)	231.66±2.41^b	326.43±5.53^a
VH:CD ratio	6.89±0.05^b	7.00±0.06^a
Goblet cells number/cm length	43.33±0.62^b	64.67±.52^a
At 5^th week of chicks age
Villi height (VH) (µm)	1277.42±14.27^b	1793.96±7.55^a
Villi width (µm)	178.04±2.21^a	150.05±0.67^b
Crypt depth (CD) (µm)	105.58±1.72^b	248.10±3.66^a
VH:CD ratio	12.15±0.08^a	7.21±0.09^b
Goblet cells number/cm length	34.00±0.54^b	51.33±0.52^a

^aValues are means ± standard errors. ‘Means carrying different letters with the same raw’ are significantly different (P ≤ 0.05)

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in [repository name e.g ‘figshare’] at http://doi.org/[doi], reference number [reference number].