Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnífera) supplementation in Salmonella gallinarum infected broilers Kumari Divya2,*, Mishra S.K.2, Lather Deepika2, Kumari Mamta2, Sharma Ravinder1,2 2Department of Veterinary Pathology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, 125004, Haryana, India. 1Regional Research Centre on FMD, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, 125004, Haryana, India. *Corresponding author: e-mail: divyasworld19@gmail.com
Abstract An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder (@ 0.5 % of feed) on broiler chicks experimentally infected with Salmonella gallinarum. One day old, 160 boiler chicks were randomly divided into two groups (I and II) of 80 chicks each. Group II was supplemented with Ashwagandha root powder. After 7 days of age each group was further subdivided into two groups (I into A, B & II into C, D) of 40 chicks each. The chicks of group B and D were inoculated with 107 CFU/ml dose of Salmonella gallinarum by subcutaneous route. Cell mediated immune response against DNCB antigen and specific antibody titre against Salmonella gallinarum measured by ELISA was significantly higher in group D as compared to group B. Percentage of pathological effects as evidenced by gross and histopathological lesion scores was higher in group B compared to group D. It is concluded that supplementation of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root powder @ 0.5% of feed decreased the severity of Salmonella gallinarum infection in broilers. Top Keywords Ashwagandha, Antibody titer, Fowl typhoid, Gross changes, Histopathological changes. Top |