Shafey T M, Al-Mufarej S, Al-Batshan H A
Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Electromagn Biol Med. 2006;25(3):163-75. doi: 10.1080/1536837060073336.
The effects of electric field (EF) during incubation of eggs on the immunocompetence of chickens were investigated over a 42-day experimental period. Eggs from a meat-type breeder flock were incubated under EF of 30 kV/m, 60 Hz during the first 18 days of incubation as compared with the control incubation (C). Chickens from the two incubation treatments were fed ad libitum and their immune system were monitored. Measurements were made of body weight (BW), and lymphoid organs weight (thymus, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius (BOF)) of birds at 21 and 42 days of age. Immune systems of birds were tested for specific antibody responses to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) and Newcastle disease vaccine (NDV), in vivo T-lymphocyte proliferation responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and in vitro to concanavalin A (Con-A). EF incubation of eggs did not significantly (P > 0.05) influence BW of bird, absolute weight of lymphoid organs and weight of thymus, and BOF as a percentage of BW of bird (% BW) at 21 and 42 days of age, humoral immune responses as measured by antibody responses to SRBC and NDV, and cell-mediated immune responses as measured by T-lymphocyte proliferation responses to PHA, and Con-A of birds when compared with those of the C treatment. EF incubation of eggs significantly (P < 0.05) increased spleen weight as a % BW at 21 and 42 days of age when compared with those incubated under the C treatment. Birds at 42 days of age had significantly (P < 0.01) higher BW, lymphoid organ weight, and weight of BOF as a % BW, and lower spleen weight as a % BW when compared with those of 21 days of age. It is concluded that the incubation of eggs under EF of 30 kV/m, 60 Hz increased spleen weight as a % BW, without altering cell-mediated and humoral immune responses and, consequently, immunocompetence of meat chickens during the rearing period of 42 days.
在42天的实验期内，研究了孵化期间电场（EF）对鸡免疫能力的影响。将来自肉用型种鸡群的种蛋在孵化的前18天置于30 kV/m、60 Hz的电场中孵化，与对照孵化（C）进行比较。对两种孵化处理的鸡自由采食，并监测其免疫系统。在21日龄和42日龄时测量鸡的体重（BW）以及淋巴器官重量（胸腺、脾脏和法氏囊（BOF））。检测鸡的免疫系统对绵羊红细胞（SRBC）和新城疫疫苗（NDV）的特异性抗体反应、对植物血凝素（PHA）的体内T淋巴细胞增殖反应以及对刀豆球蛋白A（Con-A）的体外反应。与C处理相比，电场孵化种蛋对21日龄和42日龄鸡的体重、淋巴器官绝对重量、胸腺重量以及法氏囊占鸡体重的百分比（% BW）、对SRBC和NDV抗体反应所测量的体液免疫反应以及对PHA和Con-A的T淋巴细胞增殖反应所测量的细胞介导免疫反应均无显著影响（P>0.05）。与C处理孵化的种蛋相比，电场孵化种蛋在21日龄和42日龄时显著（P<0.05）增加了脾脏占体重百分比。与21日龄的鸡相比，42日龄的鸡体重、淋巴器官重量以及法氏囊占体重百分比显著更高（P<0.01），而脾脏占体重百分比更低。得出结论，在30 kV/m、60 Hz电场下孵化种蛋增加了脾脏占体重百分比，而不改变细胞介导和体液免疫反应，因此，在42天的饲养期内对肉鸡的免疫能力没有影响。
