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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1537116

Early embryonic thermal programming and post-hatch flavonoid (Scutellaria baicalensis) supplementation enhanced immune response markers in broiler chickens

Provisionally accepted
Sadid Al Amaz Sadid Al Amaz Md Ahosanul Haque Shahid Md Ahosanul Haque Shahid Rajesh Jha Rajesh Jha Birendra Mishra Birendra Mishra *
  • University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Genetic selection in broiler chickens has led to increased muscle mass without comparable respiratory and cardiovascular system development, limiting the birds' capacity to withstand high ambient temperatures and making them vulnerable to heat stress (HS). Early embryonic Thermal Manipulation (TM) has been suggested as an effective and sustainable way to mitigate the adverse effects of HS. This study investigated how these interventions influenced the immune status of broiler chickens exposed to HS.Methods: Cobb 500 fertile eggs (n = 600) were incubated according to guidelines. On embryonic day (ED) 12, the eggs were split into two groups: 1) Control, kept at standard temperature until hatch day (ED 21), and 2) Thermal Manipulation (TM), exposed to 38.5 °C with 55% humidity for 12 hours daily from ED 12 to ED 18. After hatching, chicks were divided into 1) Control, 2) TM, 3) Control under Heat Stress (CHS), 4) TM under Heat Stress (TMHS), 5) Control with Heat Stress and Supplementation (CHSS), and 6) TM with Heat Stress and Supplementation (TMHSS). For the first 21 days, all chicks were raised under normal conditions.From day 22 to day 35, groups CHS, TMHS, CHSS, and TMHSS experienced chronic heat stress (32-33°C for 8 hours daily), while the Control and TM groups remained in a thermoneutral environment (22-24°C).: TM significantly increased (P < 0.05) AvBD11, IL4, and TLR21 expression in the spleen. TM and baicalein supplementation significantly decreased (P < 0.05) TLR15 expression. In the bursa, TM significantly increased (P < 0.05) IL4 expression. The combination of TM with baicalein significantly increased (P < 0.05) CD3 and decreased (P < 0.05) TLR1 expression. Interestingly, TM alone significantly decreased (P < 0.05) IFNg expression under HS condition. In the thymus, TM significantly decreased (P < 0.05) IL10 and TLR15, while incorporating baicalein with TM decreased (P < 0.05) AvBD6 expression. Conclusion: TM improved the immune status of broiler chickens under normal conditions.When combined with baicalein, TM mitigated the negative effects of heat stress by boosting key immune-related gene expression in the spleen, bursa, and thymus.

    Keywords: antibody, broilers, Climate Change, Heat stress, immunity Section: Animal Nutrition and Metabolism

    Received: 30 Nov 2024; Accepted: 09 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Amaz, Shahid, Jha and Mishra. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Birendra Mishra, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.