In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. Graduated, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia Univesrity, Urmia, Iran

2 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia Univesrity, Urmia, Iran

3 Department of Microbiology, Veterinary Faculty, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

4 Ph.D. Student, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia Univesrity, Urmia, Iran

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) powder on performance, carcass characteristics and immune system of Japanese quail. For this purpose, 200 one-day-old quail chicks were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates and 10 birds per replicate. The experimental treatments consisted of four levels of peppermint (0.0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75%). The consumption of 0.5 and 0.75% peppermint powder significantly reduced the severity of respiratory burst (P<0.01). No effects of experimental treatments were observed for heterophil, lymphocyte, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and monocyte counts (P>0.05). Different levels of peppermint powder caused to decreased antibody production against SRBC and humoral immune suppression (P<0.01). In addition, different levels of peppermint powder enhanced the cellular immune system through increased lymphocyte proliferation and significant increase in the thickness of the membrane between the toes in response to SRBC injection (P<0.01). The results of this experiment showed that the consumption of peppermint powder had no effect on performance of Japanese quail during different weeks and whole the experimental period (P>0.05). Moreover, there were no significant differences between the treatments for carcass characteristics, internal organ weights and length and weight of different parts of the intestine (P>0.05). Thus, according to enhancement of cellular immune responses by peppermint powder, the use of peppermint powder is recommended during the viral illness (such as Newcastle, bronchitis and influenza) or intracellular parasite infection (such as coccidiosis).

Keywords

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