Synergistic Effect of Aqueous Herbal Extracts to Enhance Vaccinal Antibody Response Against Newcastle Disease in Rural Poultry in A&N Islands

Considering the immune modulating benefits of probiotics and herbal extracts, this applied research was implemented to compare the efficacy of probiotics and herbal extracts on vaccination against Ranikhet (RD) / Newcastle disease ND) in all three breeds of Nicobari fowl, desi bird and Srinithi birds in terms of immune response to Newcastle virus vaccine under field condition. A total of 96 birds were selected at the age of 12 weeks from each of three breeds of rural poultry viz., Nicobari fowl (native bird), desibirds and Srinithi dual poultry from three villages. They were divided into four groups viz., Group 1: Vaccination plus herbal aqueous extracts; Group 2: Vaccination plus commercially available probiotics (Bacillus mesentericus-1 million, Clostridium butyricum – 2 million, Lactic acid bacillus – 50 million, and Streptococcus faecalis-30 million); Group 3: only vaccination; Group 4: No vaccination. Herbal aqueous extract was prepared with composition of neem leaves, garlic, ginger and turmeric. The composition was boiled, cooled, filtered and watered @ 5 ml per bird. Groups (1), (2) and (3) were vaccinated with RDVF vaccine via ocular instillation rout at the 12weeks of age. Admixture of herbal supplementation in vaccinated birds was helpful to augment the humoral immune response which could be appreciated through 4 fold increase in antibody titre compared to control group which received the vaccine alone. Herbal decoction prepared from fresh leaves of neem leaves, garlic, ginger and turmeric powder is advised to use as water supplement in rural poultry before and after Ranikhet vaccination.