Impact of Different Levels of Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on Performance, Oxidative Enzymes and Blood Parameters in Broiler Chicks

This research was carried out to investigate the effects of Nano-silver (Ag-NPs) on traits of productivity, oxidative stress state and some of blood Parameters in broiler chicks. A total of 240, one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated in a completely randomized design into four groups containing 60 birds, four replicates and 15 birds in each experimental pen. Basal diet supplemented with different levels of Ag-NPs (Diameter 14±0.8 nm) was given throughout research (1- 42 days). Experimental diets included: 0 (Control), 20, 40, and 60 ppm Ag-NPs/kg diet. At the end of study period, one bird with closest weight to the mean of any treatment was selected. Blood samples were collected, centrifuged and removed serum stored at -20°C until analysis. Then birds slaughtered and spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius removed and their relative weights calculated. The results showed that nano-silver has no significant effect on growth performance but a decrease was found in feed efficiency. Relative bursa weight had significantly decreased in compared with control treatment (P 0.05). Lowest weight among treatments observed in treatment that supplemented with 60 ppm nano-silver. Ag- NPs had significantly effected on oxidative stress enzymes activity among treatment in comparison to control group (P 0.01). Blood parameters such as ALT, AST, ALP, TP, Albumin, Gama globulin, triglyceride, and cholesterol were significantly affected by using nano-silver in broiler chicks (P 0.05).