The effect of administration of copper nanoparticles to chickens in their drinking water on the immune and antioxidant status of the blood

The aim of this experiment was to determine what dosage of copper (Cu) nanoparticles, added to a standard dietary supplementation with copper sulfate, would improve antioxidant and immune defense in chickens. The experiment was conducted with 126 broiler chickens assigned to seven treatments with three pens per treatment and six broiler chickens per pen. The basal-diet treatment did not receive Cu nanoparticles (nano-Cu) and as shown by analyses it was Cu-deficient (-29% vs. National Research Council (NRC) recommendations; 5.7 vs. 8mg/kg). Broiler chickens received nano-Cu (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5mg/kg body weight per day) via a tube into the crop over three 3-day periods (days 8-10, 22-24 and 36-38) or three 7-day periods (days 8-14, 22-28 and 36-42). As a result, in the nano-Cu-treated broilers the total experimental Cu intake was from -11% to +96% versus NRC recommendations. At the age of 42days of broilers, their blood indices were determined. The obtained results showed that correction of the deficient basal diet of chickens with nano-Cu to a level of copper exceeding the NRC recommendation by 54% increased the antioxidant potential of the organism and inhibited lipid peroxidation. At the dosage of +96% versus NRC, some symptoms of a deterioration in antioxidant status appeared (a decrease in the level of glutathione plus glutathione disulfide and an increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase and ceruloplasmin activity and in lipid hydroperoxide content). Additionally, +7% versus the recommended Cu dietary level was followed by unfavorable results, indicating a deterioration in red blood cell parameters and stimulation of the immune system (an increase in interleukin-6, immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgM and IgY). To conclude, it was shown that it is possible to simultaneously increase antioxidant and immune defense of chickens by supplementing their diets with nano-Cu - up to 12mg per bird during 6weeks of feeding, that is to a level no more than 7% over the NRC recommendation for growing broiler chickens.