Abstract:

Abstract: To study the immunomodulation function of antimicrobial peptides extracted from African Ostrich skin (Ost-AvBD- skin) on chicken, the immune organs indexes and the number of T lymphocytes in immune organs were observed. Fifty chickens were randomly divided into treatment and control groups. In the treatment group chickens received drinking water supplemented with African Ostrich skin antimicrobial peptides (1μg/ml) right after hatching. Immune organs were taken at day 1, 4, 7, 10 and 17 respectively. African Ostrich skin antimicrobial peptides supplementation enhanced the weight of chickens from day 10 to 17, immune organs indexes from day 4 to 7 and the number of T lymphocytes in immune organs at day 7 ( P<0.05) . The results showed that the antimicrobial peptides extracted from African Ostrich skin could promote the development of chicken immune organs and cell immunity.