Effects of Ovo Injection of Silver Nanoparticles on Immune System Response in Broiler Chickens

In this study, the effect of ovo injection of silver nanoparticles on the immune system response of broilers was studied. In this regard, 560 eggs were randomly divided into four groups with four replications. Experimental groups included: 1) positive control (injection of 1 mL of physiological serum on the seventh day of incubation), 2) negative control (no injection of physiological serum), 3) injection of 20 mg silver nanoparticles, and 4) injection of 40 mg silver nanoparticles per it was an egg. The injection of silver nanoparticles and the control group was performed on day 7 of the incubation period. At the end of the incubation period, the chicks were counted to check the percentage of hatchability and after weighting, they were slaughtered to check the parameters of the immune system. There was a significant difference in hatching percentage in experimental groups (p <0.05) so that the negative control group showed the highest percentage of hatching chickens. Silver nanoparticles improved the growth of chickens during the incubation period (p <0.05) so that the group receiving 20 mg of silver nanoparticles showed the highest body weight. Silver nanoparticles significantly increased the relative weight of liver and spleen (p <0.05). Immunoglobulin G (IgG, M (IgM) concentration, total white blood cell count, and heterophile to lymphocyte ratio did not show significant differences (p >0.05). Hepatic tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene expression Interleukin (6) (IL-, beta-modifying growth factor (TGF-β)) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) showed significant differences in the experimental groups (p <0.05). The group receiving 20 mg of silver nanoparticles showed the highest level of gene expression. In general, the results of this study showed that ovo injection of silver nanoparticles strengthens the immune system of broilers.