The aim of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) in broiler chickens diets on immune responses (humoral and cellular), weight of lymphoid organs and hematological profile. A total of 192 birds, raised in metabolism cages until the 21st day, were distributed in a completely randomised design with six treatments, eight replicates and four birds per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of diets containing 0; 1,000; 2,000; 3,000; 4,000 and 5,000 ppm of EEP. The inclusion of EEP gave a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) for relative weight of spleen and cloacal bursa, with the lowest weights found at the level of 2,946 ppm and 2,985 ppm of EEP, respectively. For the relative weight of thymus no change was observed (P > 0.05). There was no change (P > 0.05) in percentages of lymphocyte, heterophil, basophil, eosinophil and heterophil: lymphocyte ratio with the inclusion of EEP. However, there was a reduction (P < 0.05) in the percentage of monocyte to the inclusion level of 3,000 ppm of EEP when compared to control. The phagocytic activity of macrophages, the average number of phagocytised red cells and nitric oxide production were not affected (P > 0.05). The interdigital response to phytohaemagglutinin showed negative linear and quadratic behavior (P < 0.05) as a function of time and levels of inclusion, respectively, noting the smallest value of the reaction with 3,074 ppm of EEP. The birds showed a linear increase (P < 0.05) of serum antibodies against Newcastle disease, however, when each level of inclusion was compared to the control no difference was observed (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the addition of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm of EEP to the starter broiler diet did not have immunostimulant effect.

Este estudio evaluó la suplementación de extracto etanólico de propóleos (EEP) en dietas de pollos de engorde sobre la respuesta inmune (humoral y celular), peso de órganos linfoides y perfil hematológico. Se utilizaron 192 pollos de engorde, machos, criados en jaulas de metabolismo hasta los 21 días de edad. El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar con seis tratamientos, que consistieron en diferentes niveles de inclusión de EEP (0; 1.000; 2.000; 3.000; 4.000 y 5.000 ppm), con ocho repeticiones y cuatro aves por unidad experimental. La inclusión dietética de EEP provocó un efecto cuadrático (P < 0,05) en el peso relativo del bazo y bolsa de Fabricio, con menores pesos en pollos suplementados con 2.946 y 2.985 ppm de EEP, respectivamente. En el peso relativo del timo no se observó efecto (P > 0,05) de los tratamientos. La inclusión de EEP no alteró (P > 0,05) el porcentaje de linfocitos, heterófilos, basófilos, eosinófilos y la relación heterófilo:linfocito. Hubo reducción (P < 0,05) en el porcentaje de monocitos con la inclusión de 3.000 ppm de EEP en comparación al control. La actividad fagocítica de los macrófagos, número promedio de eritrocitos fagocitados y producción de óxido nítrico no fueron alterados (P > 0,05). La reacción interdigital a la fitohemaglutinina presentó efecto lineal negativo y cuadrático (P < 0,05) en función del tiempo y de los niveles de inclusión, respectivamente, resultando en menor reacción con el nivel de 3.074 ppm de EEP. Hubo aumento lineal (P<0,05) de los niveles de anticuerpos séricos contra la enfermedad de Newcastle al incrementar el nivel de EEP en la dieta; sin embargo, al comparar cada nivel de inclusión del extracto con el control no hubo diferencias (P < 0,05). Se concluye que la inclusión de 1.000 a 5.000 ppm de EEP en la dieta inicial de pollos de engorde no demostró efecto inmunoestimulante.

The influence of supplementing the diet of broiler breeder hens with arginine (Arg) on their offspring's humoral and cell-mediated immune response was evaluated in two experiments. In experiments I and II, breeder hens were fed diets containing graded levels of Arg (0.943, 1.093, 1.243, 1.393 and 1.543% digestible Arg). In experiment I, the offspring was randomly grouped according to the treatment received by the breeder hens, with five levels of Arg in the maternal diet and six replicates, giving a total 30 experimental units. In experiment II, the offspring were grouped in accordance with the treatment received by the breeder hens; however, Arg was added to the starter diet (1.300, 1.450, 1.600, 1.750 and 1.900% digestible Arg) and also the growing diet (1.150, 1.300, 1.450, 1.600 and 1.750% digestible Arg). Supplementation of the broiler breeder hen diet did not influence (p > 0.05) the development of the lymphoid organs (cloacal bursa, thymus and spleen) of the offspring, whether their diet were supplemented or not. Nevertheless, greater weight and dimensions cloacal bursa were found in the supplemented offspring in comparison with the nonsupplemented offspring. Macrophage phagocytic activity was found to be unaffected (p > 0.05), independently of the Arg supplementation. The offspring fed with supplemented diets showed a linear reduction in the antibody titer against Newcastle Disease (p < 0.05) at seven days of age, and a quadratic response (p < 0.05) at 28 days of age. The antibody titer in the non-supplemented offspring was not influenced (p > 0.05) by the breeder hen diet. This study concluded that supplementing the breeder hen diet with arginine is insufficient to improve the humoral and cellular immune response, requiring supplementation of the offspring diet.

In American cutaneous leishmaniasis, the initial infection phase is characterized by recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes. The migration of these cells in response to the presence of Leishmania in the peritoneum of affected animals remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate cell migration to the peritoneum of BALB/c mice after infection with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) major. Initially, Leishmania spp. was intraperitoneally inoculated in five groups of six animals each and the cell migration was analyzed 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after infection. Different cell counts were performed with a staining kit and showed a higher percentage of polymorphonuclear than mononuclear cells in all three species studied. The total cell count revealed peak migration in L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (L.) major at six hours, and in L. (V.) braziliensis at 12 hours. These results suggest that factors released from different cell types probably act by attracting polymorphonuclear cells, with the peak migration most likely depending on the species of Leishmania inoculated into the host.

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) was investigated in dogs from an urban endemic area in Cianorte, Paraná state, Brazil. Of 169 studied dogs, none presented suspected ACL lesions. Eleven animals (6.6%) had anti-Leishmania braziliensis antibodies (titers > 40) detected by the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) while four (2.4%) showed L. braziliensis-complex DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although no associations were found between IFAT or PCR results and age, sex, origin, free-roaming animals or length of residence at the address, the majority of IFAT- or PCR-positive dogs were from the urban area of the city and were allowed to roam freely beyond their neighborhood. The presence of anti-Leishmania braziliensis antibodies and L. braziliensis-complex DNA in dogs from this urban area near a native-forest park indicates the importance of following up on these dogs to confirm the ACL diagnosis.

Leishmania sp. infection was investigated in wild animals from the Ingá Park, in the municipality of Maringá, Paraná state, Brazil, where American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is an endemic disease. Sixty-five mammals, comprising Didelphis albiventris, Cerdocyon thous, Lycalopex vetulus, Cebus apella, Dasyprocta azarae, Dasypus novemcinctus, Procyon cancrivorus and Nasua nasua, were captured. Blood samples were collected for parasite cultivation. Antibodies were investigated by direct agglutination test (DAT) using Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis as antigen. Flagellates were observed in blood cultures of 14 (35.9%) Didelphis albiventris. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected in 31 (51.6%) specimens of Cerdocyon thous, Lycalopex vetulus, Cebus apella, Dasyprocta azarae, Procyon cancrivorus and Nasua nasua. These results suggest that Cerdocyon thous and Lycalopex vetulus (crab-eating fox), Cebus apella (capuchin monkey), Dasyprocta azarae (agouti), Procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon) and Nasua nasua (coati) play an important role in the ACL transmission cycle in the northwestern region of Paraná, Brazil.

This study aimed at evaluating the influence of Glutamine (Gln) and Vitamin E (VE) supplementation on the performance and immune response of broilers. A completely randomizes experimental design with a 2 x 3 (VE x Gln) factorial arrangement was used. VE was supplemented at 10 and 500 mg/kg feed, with or without Gln (1%) addition, and two periods of supplementation in the starter diets (1-7 and 1-14 days of age), with five replicates of 50 birds each. The analyzed parameters were: live performance (weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio); relative weights of the spleen, bursa, and thymus; antibody titers (with sheep red blood cells suspension - SRBC) and cutaneous basophilic hypersensivity (CBH). Data were submitted to the analysis of variance, and means were compared using the test of Tukey. Treatments did not influence (P>0.05) live performance parameters or antibody titers. VE reduced (P=0.01) CBH, with the level of 10 mg VE/kg allowing higher cell proliferation as compared to 500 mg VE/kg. As to lymphoid organs, only the spleen was affected (P=0.035) by Gln, which resulted in higher spleen relative weight when fed during the first week of age. Results showed that 10 mg VE/kg with Gln (1-7 days) promoted better immune responses.