Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(4): 1398-1405 1398 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2019.804.162 Effect of Arginine and Vitamin E Supplementation on Delayed Foot Web Reaction to Killed Staphylococcus aureus in Experimental T-2 Mycotoxicosis in Broiler Chicken B.K. Ramesh 1 *, H.D. Narayanaswamy 2 , M.L. Satyanarayana 3 , Suguna Rao 3 and Srikrishna Isloor 4 1 ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hagari – 583 111, Ballari (Tq), Karnataka, India 2 Karnataka Veterinary Animal Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, Karnataka, India 3 Department of Veterinary Pathology, 4 Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary College, Hebbal, Bengaluru -560 024, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction T-2 toxin, a trichothecene mycotoxin produced by several species of genus Fusarium is a potent immunotoxicant and its immunosuppressive effects are the result of direct or indirect inhibition of protein synthesis (Corrier, 1991). Environmental conditions under which the broiler chickens are intensively raised are often less than optimal and feed supplied is invariably contaminated with mycotoxins. The unending International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 04 (2019) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com The toxic effect of different dietary levels of T-2 toxin on cell-mediated arm of immune system was assessed by eliciting delayed foot web reaction (DFWR) in broiler chicken. The nutritional immunomodulation using arginine (ARG) [22 g/kg] and vitamin E (VE) [80 mg/kg] supplementation was attempted. A total of 144 day old commercial broiler chicks were randomly divided into six groups. The first four groups received 0.0 (Control- Group I), 0.25ppm (Group II), 0.50ppm (Group III) and 1ppm (Group IV) of dietary T-2 toxin. The ARG and VE combination was supplemented in the diet of birds fed either ‘0’ (Group V) or 1ppm (Group VI) of T-2 toxin. The test diets were fed for 0-28 days. The birds were sensitized twice on days 14 and 21 with killed S. aureus antigen and challenged intradermally in toe web on day 28. DFWR was measured at 0, 6, 24, and 48h post challenge. The foot web thickness peaked at 24h post challenge. A significant (P≤0.05) reduction in DFWR was observed in birds fed with 1 ppm of T-2 toxin compared to birds in control as well as ARG and VE supplemented groups. At 0.25 and 0.5 ppm of T-2 toxin, the DFWR was similar to control. The DTH reaction to S. aureus antigen in birds fed 1 ppm of T-2 toxin and supplemented with ARG and VE was similar to control birds. ARG and VE complemented each other to offer immunoprotection to birds that received immunotoxicant T-2 toxin in their diet. Keywords Broiler chicken, T-2 Toxin, Arginine, Vitamin E, DTH response, Immunomodulation Accepted: 12 March 2019 Available Online: 10 April 2019 Article Info