The effect of different levels of dietary Spirulina platensis ‎microencapsulated microalgae on nutrient digestibility, immune ‎response, and some blood parameters in broiler chickens

This study was done to evaluate the microencapsulated Spirulina powder on nutrient digestibility, immune response, and some blood parameters in broiler chickens. A total of 160 one-day old Ross 308 broiler chicks (mixed-sex) were assigned to a completely randomized design with four treatments, 4 replicates, and 10 chicks in each replicate. Experimental treatments included basal diet (without additive), basal diet +0.3, 0.6 or 0.9% microencapsulated Spirulina powder. Results showed that using all the levels of dietary microencapsulated Spirulina powder increased primary antibody titer against sheep red blood cell compared to control group. Feeding microencapsulated Spirulina powder at the levels of 0.3 or 0.6% increased IgM, IgG, and total antibody titer on d 35. Treatments contained microencapsulated Spirulina powder caused lower VLDL compared to control group (P<0.05). Adding 0.6 or 0.9% microencapsulated Spirulina powder to diet decreased LDL compared to control group. The birds fed with treatment contained 0.6% microencapsulated Spirulina powder had higher level of red blood cell compared to control group. The results of the present study showed that feeding microencapsulated Spirulina powder promoted humoral immune system, decreased the levels of VLDL, LDL, and increased the percentage of red blood cell in broiler chickens.