title: The effect of furnished cages on the immune response of laying hens under social stress.
abstract: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of cage furnishing and social stress on some lymphoid organ weight and innate, cell-mediated, and humoral immune responses in laying hens. Sixty-four chickens were used. The chickens were divided into 2 groups; one of the groups was reared in furnished cages (RFC) and the other was reared in conventional cages (RCC). In wk 17, social stress was applied. Heterophil and lymphocyte percentages; liver, spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius weights; phagocytic activity; oxidative burst and chemotaxic activity of heterophil; CD4+ and CD8+ cell proportions; and antibody production were measured. The effect of rearing methods was significant on heterophil, lymphocyte percentage, heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, and antibody production. Heterophil percentage and H/L ratio were lower (P=0.001, P=0.001, respectively), and antibody production was higher (P=0.003) in RFC hens compared to RCC hens. The main effect of social stress was also significant on heterophil, lymphocyte percentages, and H/L ratio. Heterophil percentage was higher (P=0.049); H/L ratio tended to be higher (P=0.068); and lymphocyte percentage tended to be lower (P=0.072) due to stress. In addition, thymus and bursa of Fabricius weights tended to be lower (P=0.073 and P=0.074, respectively) in stressed hens. There were significant interactions between rearing methods and social stress on oxidative burst, chemotaxic activity, and CD4+ and CD8+ proportion (P=0.001, P=0.004, P=0.054, and P=0.001, respectively). These parameters were significantly higher in RFC hens, when they were exposed to stress. On the other hand, they did not differ in RCC or unstressed RFC hens. These results indicated that cage furnishing positively affected heterophil functions, CD4+ and CD8+ cell proportions, and antibody production. Therefore, we suggest that cage furnishing, which is recommended for improving the welfare of animals, is also beneficial for improving the immune response of hens under the stress condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Istanbul Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey mature@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matur
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Istanbul Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Evren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eraslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Istanbul Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akyazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Istanbul Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ergul Ekiz
authors.affiliation: Balikesir University, Bandirma Vocational High School, 10200, Bandirma, Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eseceli
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Istanbul Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keten
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Istanbul Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Metiner
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Istanbul Avcilar, 34320, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aktaran Bala
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000254:growth & development*; D009929:Organ Size; D012919:Social Behavior; D013312:Stress, Physiological
keywords: CD4+ cell; furnished cage; phagocytic activity; poultry; social stress