Effect of Selenium on the Susceptibility of Vaccinated Cockerels against Infectious Bursal Disease

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is rated as one of the most prevalent disease of commercial poultry in Nigeria. Outbreaks of IBD in spite of vaccination are a common occurrence in poultry production in Nigeria. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of selenium (Se) supplementation on immune response, and susceptibility of vaccinated cockerels against IBDV. A total of 200 day old Dominant black marshal cockerels (DBMC) were purchased from a commercial hatchery in Nigeria. The chicks were randomly divided into seven groups (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), of 25 birds. Groups A, B and C received 0.1 ppm, 0.5 ppm, and C 1.0 ppm, of Se in their feeds respectively. Group D, E and F received 0.1 ppm, E 0.5 ppm, and F 1.0 ppm of Se respectively, group G and H was not supplemented. Groups A, B, C and H were vaccinated against IBD at one week and three weeks old. Groups D, E, F and G were not vaccinated. There was an increase in antibody titre with increase concentration of Se in feeds. After IBDV inoculation of the chicks at six weeks of age, there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in the number of birds that died between the treatment groups. The severity of lesions decreases with increase concentration of Se in feeds. It was concluded that Se supplementation in feeds reduced the susceptibility of DBMC to IBD and it also reduces the severity of the disease.