hrvatski

Effects of essential oils and natural zeolite on morphometric characteristics of blood cells

The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of essential oils and natural zeolite on blood cells morphology of chickens. Cells and nuclei morphometric parameters of erythrocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes were measured on the 21st and on the 42nd day in the control group, and in chicken fattening with essential oils XTRACTᵀᴹ and clinoptilolite as food additives. On the total of 36 blood smears area, outline, minimal and maximal radius, convexity, length and breadth of the whole cells and their nuclei as well as nucleo/cytoplasmic ratio were measured. Digital image analysis was performed using the SFORM software (VAMSTEC, Zagreb, Croatia). On the 21st day the size of erythrocytes was significantly lower compared to the control group, but on the 42nd day values returned back to control levels. Increased size and irregular shape of lymphocytes were seen on the 21st day of fattening and remained the same on the 42nd day. The size of monocytes did not change until the 42nd day, when they were significantly larger compared to the control group. Obtained results of morphometric characteristics analysis confirmed its importance in evaluation of blood cells’ adaptive responses to stress factors during intensive fattening. Established morphological changes of examined variables of monocytes and lymphocytes imply to their transformation and indicate immunomodulatory effects of added essential oils. Given results can be used to promote effective methods for assessment of immune competence of the organism so far as the diagnosis and prevention of stress condition in broiler chickens

essential oils ; erythrocyte ; lymphocyte and monocyte morphometry ; immunomodulatory effect

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