Effect of tannic acid on the immune response of growing chickens

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 68; no. 10; p. 3306
• Main Authors: Marzo, F, Tosar, A, Santidrian, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1990
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - biosynthesis; aves de corral; bazo; bolsa de fabricio; bourse de fabricius; brucella abortus; Brucella abortus - immunology; Brucellosis - immunology; Brucellosis - veterinary; bursa fabricii; Bursa of Fabricius - drug effects; Bursa of Fabricius - growth & development; calidad proteica; Chickens - immunology; digestibilidad; digestibilite; digestibility; Eating - drug effects; feed intake; gain de poids; ganancia de peso; Hydrolyzable Tannins - pharmacology; immune response; immunodepression; Immunoglobulin G - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulin M - biosynthesis; immunosuppression; ingestion de pienso; inmunodepresion; lymphatic system; Organ Size - drug effects; poultry; Poultry Diseases - immunology; prise alimentaire animaux; protein quality; proteinas; proteine; proteins; qualite proteique; Random Allocation; rate; reponse immunitaire; respuesta inmunologica; sistema linfatico; spleen; Spleen - drug effects; Spleen - growth & development; systeme lymphatique; taninos; tannin; tannins; Thymus Gland - drug effects; Thymus Gland - growth & development; volaille; weight gain
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/1990.68103306x

Effects of tannic acid (TA) on the immune response of growing chickens were studied in two experiments. In the first experiment, 25 or 30 g TA/kg diet was added to a control diet; added TA reduced (P less than .05) weight gain, protein efficiency rate and weight of bursa of Fabricius, thymus and spleen. Total IgM and IgG immunoglobulin levels (primary and secondary immune responses) against killed Brucella abortus were reduced in TA-fed chickens. Numbers of total white blood cells and absolute lymphocytes also were reduced. Tannic acid feeding also resulted in the involution of bursal follicles. In second experiment, TA-treated birds were challenged with a live culture of Brucella abortus. The total IgM and IgG levels again were depressed along with lymphoid organ weights of treated birds. Persistence of B. abortus in spleens of TA-treated birds was higher. These data suggest that the administration of tannic acid impairs the immune function of growing chickens in a dose-dependent manner.