Long-term influence of turmeric on antibody production induced by Newcastle and Gumboro disease vaccines in poultry observations from day 28 to day 40ABSTRACT
This study examines how dietary turmeric (Curcuma longa) affects immune response in Ross 308 broiler chickens vaccinated against Newcastle Disease (ND) and Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD). Five hundred male chicks were divided into five groups, receiving different turmeric levels (0, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10g/kg feed). Chicks were housed under controlled conditions with free access to feed and water. Vaccinations were administered on days 7, 14, and 21, and antibody titers were measured on days 28 and 40 using the ELISA test. Results showed that chickens fed higher turmeric levels (5 and 10g/kg) had significantly increased antibody titers compared to the control group, suggesting an enhanced immune response. The group receiving 10g/kg turmeric exhibited the highest antibody levels at both time points, highlighting turmeric’s potential as a natural immune booster to improve vaccine effectiveness in poultry. This study suggests dietary turmeric as a sustainable strategy for supporting immune health in poultry, potentially reducing the need for antibiotics and promoting better overall health and disease resistance.
Keywords:
turmeric supplementation; broiler chickens; immune response; antibody titers; Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD); Newcastle Disease (ND)
RESUMO
Este estudo examina como a cúrcuma da dieta (Curcuma longa) afeta a resposta imunológica em frangos de corte Ross 308 vacinados contra a doença de Newcastle (ND) e a doença infecciosa da bursa (IBD). Quinhentos pintinhos machos foram divididos em cinco grupos, recebendo diferentes níveis de cúrcuma (0, 1, 2,5, 5 e 10g/kg de ração). Os pintinhos foram alojados em condições controladas, com livre acesso à ração e à água. As vacinas foram administradas nos dias 7, 14 e 21, e os títulos de anticorpos foram medidos nos dias 28 e 40 usando o teste ELISA. Os resultados mostraram que os frangos alimentados com níveis mais altos de cúrcuma (5 e 10g/kg) apresentaram títulos de anticorpos significativamente maiores em comparação com o grupo de controle, sugerindo uma resposta imunológica aprimorada. O grupo que recebeu 10g/kg de cúrcuma apresentou os níveis mais altos de anticorpos em ambos os momentos, destacando o potencial da cúrcuma como um reforço imunológico natural para melhorar a eficácia da vacina em aves. Este estudo sugere que o açafrão-da-terra na dieta é uma estratégia sustentável para apoiar a saúde imunológica das aves, reduzindo potencialmente a necessidade de antibióticos e promovendo uma melhor saúde geral e resistência a doenças.
Palavras-chave:
suplementação de cúrcuma; frangos de corte; resposta imunológica; títulos de anticorpos; doença infecciosa da bursa (IBD); doença de Newcastle (ND)
INTRODUCTION
The poultry industry is a significant contributor to global food production, and the growing demand for poultry products underscores the need for optimal health management strategies. Among the critical viral diseases affecting poultry, Newcastle Disease (ND) and Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD, also known as Gumboro Disease) stand out due to their high economic impact, leading to significant morbidity and mortality (Miller and Koch, 2021; Eterradossi and Saif, 2020). Vaccination has been the cornerstone of preventing these diseases, but ensuring the long-term effectiveness of vaccine-induced immunity is vital for maintaining flock health and production. Hence, exploring ways to enhance and sustain the immune response to these vaccines over time is of paramount importance (Raji et al.,2024; Alispahic et al., 2024).
A key factor in the effectiveness of ND and IBD vaccines is the ability to generate a robust and sustained antibody response, providing long-term immunity against these pathogens. Nutritional interventions, particularly the use of phytogenic feed additives, are gaining attention for their potential to improve immune function and disease resistance in poultry (Surai et al., 2020; Schirrmacher et al., 2014; Garner-Spitzer et al., 2023). One such additive is turmeric (Curcuma longa), which contains bioactive compounds such as curcumin that possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties (Hewlings and Kalman, 2017; Yuandani et al., 2021; Zhang et al., 2024; Aderemi and Alabi, 2023). These properties make turmeric a potential natural adjuvant to enhance the long-term immune response following vaccination.
While the early effects of turmeric supplementation on antibody production have been studied (Abbas et al., 2020), its role in sustaining a strong immune response over time remains less explored. Understanding how turmeric impacts the long-term humoral response from day 21 to day 40 post-vaccination is crucial, as this period is critical for maintaining immunity and protecting poultry from ND and IBD. The prolonged influence of turmeric on antibody titers could suggest a potential for enhancing vaccine efficacy, reducing the need for booster vaccinations, and improving overall disease resistance in poultry.
The proposed study aims to evaluate the long-term effects of dietary turmeric supplementation on antibody levels induced by ND and IBD vaccines in poultry, with a focus on days 21 to 40 post-vaccination. This research could provide valuable insights into the sustained immune benefits of turmeric, informing practical dietary strategies for disease prevention in poultry production. Given the global movement towards sustainable agricultural practices and reducing antibiotic use, natural immunomodulators like turmeric offer a promising approach to supporting poultry health in a way that is safe, effective, and environmentally friendly (Alagawany et al., 2021).
By examining the antibody response during this critical period, the study will contribute to understanding how dietary turmeric can modulate the immune system to provide long-lasting protection against ND and IBD. The outcomes of this research may help optimize vaccination strategies and feed formulations, ultimately leading to better health, productivity, and welfare in poultry flocks.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 500-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chickens were obtained from AL-Khumasia hatchery. Each chick was weighed individually and randomly assigned to one of five groups, with 100 birds per group. They were housed in electrically heated wire battery cages, each covering an area of 0.6m². Incandescent lighting was used throughout the experiment. The birds received one of five feed treatments, containing 1, 2.5, 5, or 10g of Curcuma longa per kg of feed, across two feeding stages: the starter phase (days 1-21) and the finisher phase (days 22-34). Feed and water were available ad libitum (free choice) throughout the study.
The hens were provided with free-range meals in plastic feeders and drinking water in plastic troughs. The chickens were raised freely until they reached three days of age, at which point they were segregated into five groups (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5), with each group including 96 birds. The five groups received the Newcastle and Gumboro vaccines via eye drops and drinking water at 7, 14, and 21 days of life. Blood samples were obtained from the hens via the jugular vein or wing vein at ages 28 and 40 days. At three days old, the categorization into groups started as follows:
Group (B5) serves as the control group, having been vaccinated without the administration of turmeric.
Group (B1) included 1g per kilogram into its diet and received vaccination.
Group (B2) included 2.5g per kilogram into its diet and received vaccination.
Group (B3) received an additional 5g per kilogram of diet and underwent vaccination.
Group (B4) received an additional 10g per kilogram of feed and underwent vaccination.
RESULTS
At 28 days of age, following 25 days of turmeric supplementation, a reduction in antibody titer was seen in group (B1), which exhibited a titer of 4287 standard units, and group (B2), with a titer of 4736 standard units, in comparison to the control group, which had a titer of 4953 standard units. The remaining groups exhibited a progressive elevation in antibody titers corresponding to the increasing percentage of turmeric; specifically, group B2 recorded an antibody titer of 4736 standard units, group B3 had a titer of 5699 standard units, and group B4 demonstrated a titer of 6273 standard units in the serum of its chicks Fig. 1.
Antibody standards for experimental chickens added to their diet with turmeric and vaccinated with the Newcastle vaccine using the ELISA test at the age of 28 days.
At 40 days of age, following 37 days of turmeric supplementation in their meals, the elevation in antibody levels was notable, but less pronounced than the rise observed at 28 days of age. The antibody standards in the control group (B5) were 1707 standard units, in group (B1) 2296 standard units, in group (B2) 3334 standard units, in group (B3) 4400 standard units, and in group (B4) 5400 standard units in the serum of its chicks. Consequently, the antibody standards for all groups (B1, B2, B3, B4), which were 2296, 3334, 4400, and 5400, exhibited a progressive and considerable rise in relation to the control group (B5), which had an antibody standard of 1707 standard units Fig. 2.
Antibody standards for experimental chickens added to their diet with turmeric and vaccinated with Gumboro vaccine using the ELISA test (ElisA) at the age of (40) days
DISCUSSION
Our results show that the addition of turmeric in broiler diets improves the immune response, especially after vaccination against Newcastle and Gumboro, an effect corroborated by Xu et al. (2024). However, their use of Lonicera flos could suggest that the addition of other plant extracts could further enhance the benefits observed in our study, especially in terms of antioxidant capacity and growth. In our study, progressive increases in antibody titers were observed with higher percentages of turmeric supplementation, showing its immunostimulatory properties. This is consistent with Fathi et al.'s findings, where CurNPs enhanced the immune response by increasing the relative weight of immune organs (like the spleen) and improving serum antibody levels, specifically immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in response to sheep red blood cells (SRBCs). These enhancements are partly attributed to curcumin's antioxidant capabilities, which reduce oxidative stress and support immune system function. Both studies highlight turmeric/curcumin's role in modulating the immune system through antioxidant mechanisms. Fathi et al. reported significant improvements in antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), which help mitigate oxidative damage. Similarly, our study may be reflecting these antioxidant effects indirectly through the increased antibody titers in groups supplemented with turmeric.
In the study by Xu et al. (2024), curcumin supplementation was found to promote the intestinal structure, immune barrier function, and the composition of the cecal microbiota in laying hens, showing clear benefits for gut health and immune response during the early laying period. These findings align with the broader body of research showing that curcumin has positive effects on poultry performance, immune function, and antioxidant status. Comparing this to our study, curcumin consistently supports not only growth performance but also improves the immune-related response, particularly under stress from insecticide exposure, as seen in broilers. This is similar to Xu et al. (2024) findings, where curcumin enhanced immune barrier functions in laying hens. The enhancement of the intestinal structure and microbiota balance is particularly important because a healthy gut environment is essential for nutrient absorption, which in turn supports better overall growth and immune defense.
In our study, turmeric supplementation progressively increased antibody titers in broilers vaccinated with Newcastle and Gumboro vaccines, indicating an enhancement in immune response. El-Damrawy (2024) found similar results, where curcumin, as a natural additive, improved the immune response, particularly through increased antibody titers and better overall health markers in broilers. Both studies highlight curcumin’s role as an immunomodulatory agent. El-Damrawy also noted improvements in serum biochemical parameters, such as reduced lipid levels, and enhanced growth performance, especially in groups fed higher curcumin concentrations (up to 350mg/kg diet). These findings align with our results, where turmeric progressively elevated antibody titers as its percentage in the diet increased, suggesting curcumin's broad benefits in enhancing both immune function and overall productivity in poultry.
In our study, the supplementation of turmeric showed a progressive increase in antibody titers in groups with higher turmeric percentages. This suggests an immunomodulatory effect, especially following Newcastle and Gumboro vaccinations, which aligns with findings from other studies on turmeric and curcumin in poultry. For example, the study by Santos Macário et al. (2024) highlights how turmeric essential oil improved the intestinal integrity and immune response in broilers under heat stress. They observed enhanced immune-related gene expression and performance, similar to how our turmeric-supplemented groups showed improved antibody responses.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that dietary supplementation with turmeric (Curcuma longa) enhances the immune response in broiler chickens vaccinated against Newcastle Disease (ND) and Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD). Specifically, higher levels of turmeric (5 and 10 g/kg feed) significantly increased antibody titers, suggesting improved and sustained immune function. These findings highlight turmeric’s potential as a natural immunomodulatory additive capable of bolstering vaccine efficacy, reducing the need for booster doses, and promoting long-term disease resistance in poultry. Given the global shift towards reducing antibiotic use and implementing sustainable agricultural practices, turmeric supplementation offers a promising, eco-friendly approach to poultry health management. Incorporating turmeric into poultry diets may help optimize vaccination strategies, support immune resilience, and improve overall productivity and welfare in commercial poultry farming. Future research could explore combining turmeric with other phytogenic additives to further enhance immune response and growth performance in poultry.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors sincerely acknowledge the Researcher Support Project (RSP-2025R232) for funding this work at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
14 July 2025 -
Date of issue
Jul-Aug 2025
History
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Received
04 Nov 2024 -
Accepted
01 Feb 2025
