الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate the growth promoting and immunological effects of oral administration of Zinc oxide nanoparticles and Levamisole Hcl each alone in broiler chicks.
In the present work, some pharmacodynamic effects of daily oral administration of ZnONPs and LMS given each alone for 37 successive days to broiler chicks as growth promoters and immuno-stimulants were investigated. Moreover, the possible side and / or adverse effects of these drugs on blood picture, some biochemical parameters and the histological structure of some isolated organs from broiler chicks were also studied.
Three groups each of 50 one-day old Ross (308) broiler chicks obtained from a commercial hatchery, fed a balanced commercial starter and grower rations and vaccinated against Newcastle and Gumboro diseases, were used in this work. group 1: chicks were fed on basal ration and water without drug treatment and used as a control. group 2: chicks were treated with Zinc oxide nanoparticles at a concentration level of 20 mg./kg. ration + drinking water. group 3: chicks were treated with Levamisole Hcl at a concentration level of 25 mg./kg body weight in drinking water + basal ration.
The chicks were weighted individually at the beginning of the experiment then weighted weekly until the end of the experiment at 37 days old. Also the feed intake was weighted weekly at the same periods to evaluate the productive traits.
On days 21 and 35 of the experiment, 10 birds from each treated and control groups were slaughtered and blood samples were collected to estimate some haematological, biochemical parameters and to estimate the antibody titer against Newcastle disease and also phagocytic index and phagocytic percentage on day 35. The histopathological alterations were recorded.
On days 14, 21, 28 and 35 of the experiment, serum samples from 10 birds from each control and treated groups were obtained to estimate antibody titer against Newcastle disease by hemagglutination inhibition test.
On days 21 and 35 of the experiment, some internal organs (intestines, liver, kidney, spleen, bursa and thymus) from 10 birds of each group were collected and prepared to evaluate the histo-pathological findings induced by the administration of these drugs.
The obtained results are as follows:
A. Growth findings:
The total body weights, body weight gains and the total relative growth rate were increased in all treated groups of chicks in comparison with the control group. The total feed conversion ratio was decreased in all treated groups of chicks in comparison with the control group. The organ index weight of liver, heart, spleen, intestines and gizzard show a non-significant difference in all treated and control groups of chicks on day 21 of the experiment.
B. Blood picture:
The P.C.V. %, Hb. % and W.B.Cs were significantly increased in chicks treated with ZONPs in comparison to the control group on days 21 and 35 of the experiment. R.B.Cs. count of chicks showed an increase on day 35. But in LMS treated chicks the W.B.Cs value was significantly increased on days 21 and 35 of the experiment.
C. Biochemical results:
Serum total protein content significantly increased in chicks supplemented with ZONPs in comparison to LMS and control groups on days 21 and 35 of the experiment. The albumin and the globulin contents were increased.
The ALT., AST. and ALP. levels were not differed in all treated groups in comparison with the control group of chicks on days 21 and 35 of the experiment. Triglycerides and cholesterol levels of chicks treated with these drugs were decreased. The total bilirubin levels showed insignificant changes. Serum urea and creatinine levels of chicks treated with LMS was decreased in comparison to the control group.
D. Histo-pathological findings:
Chicks treated with ZnONPs or LMS showed a significant increase in the intestinal villi length, crypt depth and goblet cells number on days 21 and 35 of the experiment. The liver, kidney, spleen showed normal histological structure. Bursa of fabricious of chicks treated with these drugs showed normal follicular structure. The Thymus of chicks treated with ZONPs showed normal thymic compartments.
E. Immunological findings:
The antibody (HI.) titer against Newcastle disease on day 14 and day 21 of the experiment was increased in all treated groups but significantly decreased on day 28. This titer was significantly increased on days 14, 21 and 35 of chicks treated with LMS in comparison with the control group.
The phagocytic percentage on day 35 of the experiment was increased in chicks treated with ZONPs in comparison to control groups on day 35 of the experiment. The phagocytic index was not differed. The Thymus weight was increased in chicks treated with ZONPs in comparison to control groups on day 21 of the experiment. The Thymus percent significantly increased in chicks treated with ZONPs or LMS in comparison to the control group on day 35 of the experiment. The bursa weight and the bursa percent were increased in all treated groups in comparison to the control group on day 21 of the experiment. Spleen weight and percent were not differed in all treated and the control groups of chicks on days 21 and 35 of the experiment.