Studies on wheat bran Arabinoxylan for its immunostimulatory and protective effects against avian coccidiosis

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) bran derived polysaccharides, Arabinoxylans (AXs), were evaluated for their immunostimulatory and protective efficacy against Eimeria infection in chickens. Humoral response revealed significantly higher (P < 0.05) total Igs, IgG and IgM titers at days 7th and 14th post primary and secondary injections of sheep red blood cells in the experimental chickens administered with AXs as compared to those of control group. The percent protection and daily weight gains were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the chickens of experimental groups as compared to control; whereas, mean oocyst per gram of droppings and lesion scores were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in control group as compared to chickens in the experimental groups. The differences in organ body weight ratio of all the lymphoid organs were statistically non-significant (P > 0.05) between experimental and control groups except thymus and cecal tonsils. In conclusion, AXs showed both immunostimulatory and protective effects against coccidiosis in broiler chickens. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.