Research Article Open Access

Immune Response of Laying Hens Exposed to 30 ppm Ammonia for 25 Weeks

Authors

H. Chen
College of Animal Science and Technology, Agricultural University, 071001 Hebei, China
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F.F. Yan
Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907 IN, USA
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J.Y. Hu
Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907 IN, USA
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Yanan Wu
College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095 Jiangsu, China
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C.M. Tucker
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois, 61820 IL, USA
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A.R. Green
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois, 61820 IL, USA
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CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
H.W. Cheng
USDA-ARS, Livestock Behavior Research Unit, 125 Russell street, West Lafayette, 47907 IN, USA
Published on: March 15, 2017
DOI 10.3923/ijps.2017.139.146
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Abstract

Background and Objective: Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most prominent aerial pollutants inside poultry barns, affecting chicken health and well-being based on its level and exposure duration. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 30 ppm NH3 on the immune response of laying hens. Methodology: Hy-Line W-36 hens at 18 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 4 hen cages and evenly distributed to two controlled environment chambers. Beginning at 25 weeks of age, one chamber was maintained continuously with fresh air (NH3 < 5 ppm; control group) and the other one was injected with NH3 and controlled at 30 ppm (NH3 group) for 25 weeks. At 50 weeks of age, plasma concentrations of total immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM), complement factors (C3 and C4), albumin (ALB), Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) as well as mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the spleens were determined (n = 16). Results: Hens exposed to NH3 had a greater Heterophil/Lymphocyte (H/L) ratio (p<0.05) but lower plasma concentrations of IgM and C4 (p<0.05, respectively) than control hens. There were no differences in the concentrations of other measured parameters between NH3 exposed hens and control hens (p>0.05, respectively). Conclusion: These findings suggested that NH3 exposure at 30 ppm for 25 weeks increases stress status and suppresses immunity of laying hens as indicated by the changes of H/L ratio and plasma IgM and C4 concentrations.

Keywords:

Ammonia, hen, heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, immunity, stress

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Chen, H., Yan, F., Hu, J., Wu, Y., Tucker, C., Green, A., & Cheng , H. (2017). Immune Response of Laying Hens Exposed to 30 ppm Ammonia for 25 Weeks. International Journal of Poultry Science, 16(4), 139–146. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2017.139.146
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