Effects of dietary supplements of selenium, vitamin E or combinations of the two on antibody responses of broilers

Abstract

1.	The effects of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on some immune parameters were investigated in broilers.
2.	Broiler chicks were fed on maize–soybean diets with different concentrations of vitamin E (0–200 mg/kg) and selenium (0–0·2 mg/kg diet) either alone or in combinations from 1 to 42 d of age.
3.	Chicks were immunised against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine at 21 d of age and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titres were determined after 10 d.
4.	Chicks receiving supplements of 200 mg vitamin E/kg and 0·2 mg selenium/kg produced significantly higher HI antibody titres. This was associated with an increased serum concentration of total immunoglobulins and circulatory immune complexes.
5.	The chicks given 200 mg vitamin E/kg and 0·2 mg selenium/kg had significantly heavier spleen and bursa.
6.	The results suggested that vitamin E and selenium have synergistic effects on immune responses.