Immune response of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with artemisinin

The purpose of this study was to determine the side effects of artemisinin on the immune system of broiler chickens following chronic oral intake. Chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group and three experimental groups that received 5, 50 and 500 ppm artemisinin in the feed. The effect of artemisinin on the chickens’ immune system was assessed using the following criteria: morphometric changes in bursa of Fabricius, spleen, and thymus; changes in the concentrations of serum gamma globulins and functional activity of the immune response, lymphocyte proliferation assay and antibodies titres against sheep red blood cells. The lymphoid organs were negatively affected by the chronic consumption of artemisinin. Bursa was the most affected organ. The concentration of serum gamma globulins and antibody titres against sheep red blood cells were higher in the chickens exposed orally to artemisinin than in the control groups. The lymphocytes were stimulated by lipopolysaccharides, while artemisinin and concanavalin A caused a slight immunosuppression. The spontaneous phagocytic activity was significantly stimulated by the consumption of artemisinin and inhibited by the addition of concanavalin A. In vitro assays revealed a slight immunosuppression, mainly for T lymphocytes, even lymphoid organs were affected by high doses of artemisinin.