Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2016, 61(10):450-461 | DOI: 10.17221/80/2015-CJAS

Effect of silver nanoparticles on the immune, redox, and lipid status of chicken bloodOriginal Paper

K. Ognik¹, E. Cholewińska¹, A. Czech¹, K. Kozłowski², Ł. Wlazło³, B. Nowakowicz-Dębek³, R. Szlązak^4,5, K. Tutaj^5,6

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Biology, Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland

² Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland

³ Department of Animal Hygiene and Environment, Faculty of Biology and Animal Breeding, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland

⁴ Department of Metrology and Modelling of Agrophysical Processes, Bohdan Dobrzański Institute of Agrophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Lublin, Poland

⁵ Department of Biophysics, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science, Maria Curie Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland

⁶ Chair of Soil Science, Environmental Chemistry and Hydrology, Faculty of Biology and Agriculture, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland

The aim of the study was to analyze how per os application of hydrocolloids of silver nanoparticles (22 nm) and lipid-coated silver nanoparticles (5 nm) affect the immune, redox, and lipid status of the blood of broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted on 60 chickens. The first group was the control (Group C). The chickens in Group II received a silver nanoparticle hydrocolloid (Ag-nano) at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight (BW) per day. The chickens in Group III received a lipid-coated silver nanoparticle hydrocolloid (AgL-nano) at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW per day. Blood for analysis was collected from 24- and 38-day-old chickens and several blood parameters were determined. The increase in phagocytosis and in the metabolic activity of leukocytes observed following per os administration of chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles differing in size and in the presence or absence of a lipid coating may indicate a developing inflammatory state in the organism. The decrease in haemoglobin content and antioxidant enzyme activity and the increase in the content of iron, bilirubin, and lipid peroxidation products are indicative of oxidative stress, although in the case of administration of AgL-nano the oxidation effect appears to be greater. Administration of silver nanoparticles to the chickens, particularly 5 nm lipid-coated nanoparticles, probably led to a disturbance in protein catabolism in the organism, which is evidenced by the decrease in the activity of the liver enzymes AST and ALT and the decreased concentration of the main protein metabolism products (creatinine and urea).

Keywords: chickens, nanosilver, immunology, antioxidant

Published: October 31, 2016  Show citation