E-ISSN 2536-9520 | ISSN 1110-2047
 

Original Article
Online Published: 07 Jun 2026
 


Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease

Nehad A. Saleh, Mousa A. Ayoub, Mohammad ِa. Nossair, Heba E. Farag.


Abstract
This study investigated the combined effects of stocking density, heat stress, and vitamin supplementation on humoral immune responses and lymphoid organ development in broiler chickens. A total of 720 unsexed Cobb broiler chicks (7 days old) were randomly allocated to 18 experimental groups across three thermal environments: thermoneutral conditions, sudden chronic heat stress (CHS), and gradual CHS exposure. Birds were housed at three stocking densities: recommended (10 birds/m²), medium (14 birds/m²), and high (18 birds/m²), with or without ascorbic acid and vitamin E+Se supplementation. Humoral immune responses against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) and Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) were evaluated using hemagglutination inhibition and ELISA tests, respectively, at 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of age. Lymphoid organ indices were measured at 42 days. Results showed that heat stress protocols and stocking densities had minimal significant effects on antibody titers against both NDV and IBDV vaccines across most sampling periods. However, gradual CHS exposure at 42 days showed some variation in NDV antibody responses, with the highest stocking density group (G3) showing numerically higher titers (4.33±0.33) compared to supplemented groups. Lymphoid organ development remained largely unaffected by experimental treatments under thermoneutral conditions. The study suggests that broiler chickens demonstrate remarkable resilience in maintaining immune responses despite environmental and housing stressors, though subtle differences may emerge under prolonged stress conditions.

Key words: broiler chickens, stocking density, vitamin supplement, heat stress, immune response


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Saleh NA, Ayoub MA, Nossair M, Farag HE. Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease. AJVS. Online First: 07 Jun, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.317896


Web Style

Saleh NA, Ayoub MA, Nossair M, Farag HE. Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease. https://www.alexjvs.com/?mno=317896 [Access: June 23, 2026]. doi:10.5455/ajvs.317896


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Saleh NA, Ayoub MA, Nossair M, Farag HE. Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease. AJVS. Online First: 07 Jun, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.317896



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Saleh NA, Ayoub MA, Nossair M, Farag HE. Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease. AJVS, [cited June 23, 2026]; Online First: 07 Jun, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.317896



Harvard Style

Saleh, N. A., Ayoub, . M. A., Nossair, . M. . & Farag, . H. E. (0) Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease. AJVS, Online First: 07 Jun, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.317896



Turabian Style

Saleh, Nehad A., Mousa A. Ayoub, Mohammad ِa. Nossair, and Heba E. Farag. 0. Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, Online First: 07 Jun, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.317896



Chicago Style

Saleh, Nehad A., Mousa A. Ayoub, Mohammad ِa. Nossair, and Heba E. Farag. "Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease." Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences Online First: 07 Jun, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.317896



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Saleh, Nehad A., Mousa A. Ayoub, Mohammad ِa. Nossair, and Heba E. Farag. "Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease." Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences Online First: 07 Jun, 2026. Web. 23 Jun 2026 doi:10.5455/ajvs.317896



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Saleh, N. A., Ayoub, . M. A., Nossair, . M. . & Farag, . H. E. (0) Assessment of Stocking Density and Vitamin Supplement on the Immune Response of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens against Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bursal Disease. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, Online First: 07 Jun, 2026. doi:10.5455/ajvs.317896





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