title: Effects of chitosan and its derivative added to water on immunological enhancement and disease control.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against diseases by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. Development of novel natural immune enhancers is an urgent issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  In experiment 1, Newcastle disease antibody titer, levels of IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ, and changes in CD3(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells were analyzed. In experiment 2, diarrhea, respiratory symptoms and mortality of broilers were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In experiment 1, the results showed that the immune response, such as Newcastle disease antibody and CD4(+) T cells, would be significantly activated by feeding with chitosan and its derivative during 27 days. In experiment 2, the results demonstrated that diarrhea, respiratory symptoms and the mortality of the commercial medicine treatment group were decreased, with infection days increased. However, the mortality of broilers was significantly decreased, while feed intake and weight gain of the birds were significantly increased in the group treated with chitosan and its derivative as compared with other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chitosan and its derivative have strong potential in immune enhancement and disease control, and can be used as a feed additive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, National Chung-Hsing University, 250 Kao Kuang RD, Taichung, Taiwan 40227, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shyh-Shyan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Deng-Cheng
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yong-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jin-ding
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002645:Chickens; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009521:Newcastle Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D014867:Water; D048271:Chitosan