Download FACULTAD DE MEDICINA VETERINARIA y ZOOTECNIA

FACULTY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VIUSID-VET LIQUID* ON THE PRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS
AND ALSO ITS IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTION ON BROILERS AT A COMMERCIAL POULTRY FARM
Background
Intensive broiler production nowadays not only means that the work involved in feeding, handling,
biosafety and preventive medicine must be extremely efficient, but also the birds have to be kept
healthy for as long as possible. Looking after these poultry populations and making sure that the
maximum standards of health are upheld is a huge challenge and that is why growth enhancers and
products that improve and preserve the birds’ overall general immune response
(immunomodulators) are essential.
With Viusid-Vet Liquid*, a commercial product from Catalysis distributed by Laboratorio
Dermaceutical México, S. A. de C. V, the immune system of broilers and their productive expression
can indeed be optimized.
Viusid-Vet Liquid* is a food supplement, composed of antioxidants, vitamins, trace elements and an
active substance from liquorice root extract (glycyrrhizinic acid) with potential antiviral properties.
The molecular activation of its active substances stimulates their biological functions (antiviral and
antioxidant effect) without modifying their molecular structure, which significantly builds up the
organism’s defences.
Objective
Evaluate the effectiveness of Viusid-Vet Liquid* on the productive parameters and also how it works
like an immunomodulator in broilers throughout the fattening period when it is added to their
drinking water.
Hypothesis
Increase the humoral immune response when Viusid-Vet Liquid* is added to the drinking water and
improve the productive parameters of the broilers.
Material and methods
Species: Gallus gallus male broilers, Ross x Ross strain, one day old and housed in two sheds: 21,415
birds in shed 2, treated with Viusid-Vet Liquid*, and 20,986 birds in the control group shed 3; 42,401
birds in total.
Place: Josefina commercial poultry farm, located in Yautepec (Morelos, Mexico). The sheds are fitted
out with an automatic feed system and cup nipple drinkers, and the birds are reared in semicontrolled conditions. 42,401 birds were used in total.
Product: Viusid-Vet Liquid*. Commercial product from Catalysis, distributed by Laboratorio
Dermaceutical México, S. A. de C. V. It is available in a metallic packet of 270 ml and it is added to the
drinking water. Dose of 540 ml/1000 L of drinking water.
Feed: Grain feed produced by the firm itself for different stages of the production cycle: Pre-starter,
from 0-10 days; Starter, 11-8 days; Grower, 19-21 days; Finisher, from 28 to 45 days; and Withdrawal,
from 45 days to market weight.
Monitoring: 16 samples of serum and the lymphoid organs from 5 slaughtered birds were used to
obtain histological sections for each group in the clinical trial.
Evaluation time: From 1 day old to 49 days old.
Groups:
Birds in shed 2 received Viusid-Vet Liquid* that was added to the drinking water in a ratio of 540 ml /
1000 L continuously throughout the fattening period of 49 days.
Birds in shed 3 were used as the control group.
All the birds were given water and feed ad-libitum and they were vaccinated in accordance with the
established vaccination calendars at the farm.
• Data for the experimental design
- Josefina farm
- Number of birds in the clinical trial: 42,401
- Birds in the control group: 20,986
- Birds in the treatment group: 21,415
• Evaluated parameters at 35 days
- % of mortality
- Weekly weight
- Cumulative weekly feed conversion
 Serological and histopathological tests
- Haemagglutination-inhibition test for Newcastle’s disease (HI-ND) at 28 and 44 days old
- Histopathological test on lymphoid organs (spleen, bursa of Fabricius and thymus) at 28 and 44
days old
16 samples of serum (16 s.) and 10 lymphoid organs (5 o.) were taken from birds of each group to
carry out the tests.
The following monitoring programme was established for the two groups, the control group and the
group treated with Viusid-Vet Liquid:
Days
old
Laboratory tests
28 days
HI-ND (16 birds/group)
28 days
Histopathological test: T, BF, S and L (5
birds/group)
44
days
44
days
HI-ND (16 birds/group)
Histopathological test: T, BF, S and L (5
birds/group)
Haemagglutination-inhibition test for
Newcastle’s disease
T: Thymus, BF: Bursa of Fabricius, S: Spleen
and L: Liver.
Haemagglutination-inhibition test for
Newcastle’s disease
T: thymus, BF: Bursa of Fabricius, S: Spleen
and L: Liver.
Laboratory tests: Considering the immunomodulatory effect of Viusid-Vet Liquid*, the main
objective was to see whether there was an increase in the number of cells, tissue and the weight of
the lymphoid organs, which therefore involved calculating the weight of the lymphoid organs and
the levels of antibodies against Newcastle’s disease (HI-ND).
Vaccination calendar:
Days
old
1 day
Type of vaccine
MD+ IBD/
subcutaneous
Combined live vaccine against Marek's disease and the infectious
bursal disease.
6 days
8 days
10 days
Newcastle / ocular
IBD/ oral
ND-IB/ ocular
10 days
ND-AI/ subcutaneous
14 days
IBD/ oral
Live vaccine against Newcastle's disease, ocular administration
Live vaccine against the infectious bursal disease
Live vaccine against Newcastle's disease and Infectious bronchitis
Inactivated vaccine against Newcastle's disease and Avian
Influenza
Live vaccine against the infectious bursal disease.
Results
It should be pointed out that there were respiratory problems during the cycle that became
apparent with the number of deaths recorded at 29 days and from then after, for the birds in shed 2
that were being treated with Viusid-Vet Liquid. The infection had probably spread through all the
sheds on the farm.
The symptomatology, the mortality and the lesions observed all point to the fact that the respiratory
disorders had been caused by an infection (infectious coryza) and by the subsequent more complex
bacteria-related problems.
The first serological markers are monitored in the initial stages of the clinical trial, which is when the
respiratory symptomatology that persists right up until the end, is noticed.
This infection is thought to have altered the productive parameters, in particular the cumulative and
weekly mortality parameters.
Productive parameters recorded at Josefina farm for the broilers that are continuously treated with
Viusid-Vet Liquid* 540 ml/1000 L of drinking water, until they are 49 days old.
Weight, mortality and feed conversion are as follows:
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
VIUSID
Weight
0.135
0.356
0.672
1.180
1.615
2.164
2.750
Control
Weight
0.132
0.320
0.675
1.190
1.640
2.130
2.520
%
2%
11%
0%
-1%
-2%
2%
9%
VIUSID
%C. Mort.
1.251
2.260
3.054
3.960
5.870
9.647
15.970
Control
% C. Mort.
1.010
2.363
3.402
4.336
6.428
12.785
19.718
%
24%
-4%
-10%
-9%
-9%
-25%
-19%
VIUSID
F. Conv.
1.680
1.744
1.486
1.425
1.772
1.944
2.079
Control
F.Conv.
1.513
1.768
1.348
1.325
1.679
1.992
2.260
%
11%
-1%
10%
8%
4%
-2%
-8%
With regard to the average weights, at the end of the clinical trial, the group treated with Viusid-Vet
Liquid* weighed 9% more, namely 230 grams, than the birds from the control group. This is a
considerable difference in statistical terms.
The average cumulative and weekly mortality was always lower for the group treated with Viusid-Vet
Liquid* from the second week up to the end of the clinical trial, as mortality dropped 19% (3.748 real
points) compared to that of the birds in the control group (P<0.05).
The average feed conversion at the end of the clinical trial for the Viusid-Vet Liquid* treatment
group was 8% better, which is equivalent to 190 g of feed per kilo of weight, compared to that of the
birds in the control group. This is also a considerable difference in statistical terms.
Histopathological results
Weight of organs
The average weight of the organs when the birds were 28 days old was better for the birds treated
with Viusid-Vet liquid* except for the thymus weight.
Sample
Average
Spleen (g)
0.99
Thymus (g)
0.69
Control group
Bursa of Fabricius (g)
0.66
Liver (g)
14.99
Sample
Average
Spleen (g)
1.18
Viusid-Vet Liquid* group
Thymus (g)
Bursa of Fabricius (g)
0.57
0.78
Liver (g)
20.18
Positive differences were observed in the group treated with Viusid-Vet Liquid*; due to the
existence of lymphoid hyperplasia and the fact that there were fewer lesions in their organs
compared to those from the control group.
The histopathological results of the lymphoid organs corroborate the immunostimulatory effect of
Viusid-Vet Liquid*.
Spleen
Moderate
lymphoid
hyperplasia
Abundant
lymphoid
hyperplasia
No significant changes
Small areas of dispersed focal
necrosis
Slight lymphoid hyperplasia
Control group 28
days
VIUSID 28
days
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
Control group 44
days
VIUSID 44
days
60%
60%
20%
0
20%
40%
Spleen
% of positive samples
Moderate lymphoid hyperplasia
Abundant lymphoid hyperplasia
No significant changes
Control group 28 days old
VIUSID 28 days old
The moderate lymphoid tissue development of the spleen in birds from the Viusid Vet Liquid*
treatment group was better than that of the control group in 100% of the samples.
Spleen
% of positive samples
Small areas of dispersed focal necrosis
Slight lymphoid hyperplasia
No significant changes
Control group 44 days old
VIUSID 44 days old
The lymphoid tissue development of the spleen in birds from the Viusid Vet Liquid* treatment group
was better than that of the control group, in which 20% of the birds had tissue affected by small
areas of focal necrosis.
Control group 28
days
VIUSID 28
days
Control group 44
days
VIUSID 44
days
Liver
Slight swelling
Moderate swelling
No significant changes
Slight
focal
lymphoid
hyperplasia
Severe swelling
60%
0%
40%
40%
40%
20%
20%
0%
20%
60%
0%
40%
60%
0%
***At 28 days there were no significant changes in the aforesaid liver lesions of the birds from either
group involved in this clinical trial.
Liver
% of positive samples
Slight focal lymphoid hyperplasia
Slight swelling
Severe swelling
No significant changes
VIUSID 44 days old
Control group 44 days old
N.B.: The growth of the lymphoid tissue and the reduction of lesions in the liver were better in the
group treated with Viusid-Vet Liquid* than the control group.
***There were no significant differences in the thymus lesions described in the histological study
when the birds were 28 and 44 days old for either the control group or the group treated with ViusidVet Liquid*.
Bursa of
Fabricius
Moderate subacute bursitis
Severe bursitis
Severe chronic bursitis
Moderate chronic bursitis
Chronic slight with areas of
cortical regeneration
Moderate cortical hyperplasia
Moderate follicular atrophy with
areas of cortical regeneration
Control
group 28
days
0%
0%
100%
VIUSID 28
days
60%
20%
20%
Control
group 44
days
VIUSID 44
days
20%
0%
80%
0%
20%
0%
0%
20%
0%
60%
20%
0%
Bursa of Fabricius
% of positive samples
Moderate subacute bursitis
Severe bursitis
Severe chronic bursitis
Control group 28 days
VIUSID 28 days
When the birds from the group treated with Viusid-Vet Liquid* were 28 days old they had fewer
chronic inflammatory lesions, 80% of the birds had no lesions at all. This means that they had more
protection than the birds from the control group, in which 100% of the birds had chronic
inflammatory lesions.
The lymphoid tissue development was 60% better in the birds from the group that was administered
Viusid-Vet Liquid* when they were 44 days old compared to that of the birds in the control group.
The cortical regeneration was 20% better in the birds from the group treated with Viusid-Vet Liquid*
than that of the birds in the control group.
Serological results
Inhibition test for Newcastle’s disease (HI-ND) at 28 days old
Dilution
2
4
16
32
64
128
256
512
Control group 28 days
1
1
0
2
2
6
3
1
HI for Newcastle
VIUSID 28 days Control group 44 days
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
0
5
3
4
6
1
4
2
0
VIUSID 44 days
0
0
0
0
0
7
5
2
28 days Control group
28 days VIUSID group
N.B.: The protective antibody titre levels of two of the serum samples taken from birds in the control
group were lower than the minimum, whilst those in the birds from the group treated Viusid-Vet
Liquid* were, on average, higher and uniform.
HI for Newcastle’s disease
Nº of positives
Dilution
Control 44 days
VIUSID 44 days
The serological results (haemagglutination-inhibition test) for Newcastle’s disease (ND), using 10
haemagglutination units and expressed in the base two logarithmic average, were better for the
birds from the treatment group administered Viusid-Vet Liquid* when they were 6.2 weeks old:
Age (days)
28
44
Control group 28 days
VIUSID group 28 days
Control group 44 days
VIUSID group 44 days
Control Group Log 2
6.25
6.86
Viusid Group Log 2
6.41
7.64
The infection that was observed in both groups could have affected the antibody titres against ND.
The impact that this might have had at 21 days old, which produced a log of 0.16 and at 44 days old a
log of 0.78, is unknown, although the antibody titre levels of the birds treated with Viusid-Vet Liquid*
were always higher than those of the birds in the control group.
Conclusions
1. The resulting productive parameters of the birds treated with Viusid-Vet Liquid* proved its
immunomodulatory effect on the lymphoid organs.
2. Viusid-Vet Liquid* significantly improved the productive parameters concerning the feed
conversion, weight and mortality rates of the broilers in the treatment group, despite the fact that
they had an infection.
3. Viusid-Vet Liquid* produced more protective, homogenous and uniform antibody titres against
Newcastle’s disease (HI-ND) in the birds from the treatment group when they were 28 and 44 days
old compared to those in the control group.
4. Viusid-Vet Liquid* favoured the weight and the cell levels in the primary lymphoid tissues, namely,
the spleen, bursa of Fabricius and liver.
Adding Viusid-Vet Liquid* to the birds' drinking water does not alter their homeostasis or their
symptomatology in any way after the product has been used. It does however improve the
productive expression in strains of high yield broilers.
*Registered trade mark Viusid-Vet Liquid* by Catalysis (Spain). Distributed by Dermaceutical México,
S. A. de C. V.
KINDS REGARDS
LUIS OCAMPO CAMBEROS
Doctor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry
FULL TIME PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY
FACULTY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY (FMVZ)
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTONOMA DE MEXICO (UNAM)
Bibliography