E-ISSN 2536-9520 | ISSN 1110-2047
 
2026, Vol: 90
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Original Article
Online Published: 26 Jun 2026
 


Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge

Shaimaa El-gbily, Rasha Diabb, Nahed A. El-shall.


Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of combined dietary supplementation with Nigella sativa seeds (NSS) and β-glucan (βG) on growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, oxidative status, immune responses to Newcastle disease (ND), avian influenza (AI), and infectious bursal disease (IBD), and protection against ND virus (NDV) challenge in broiler chickens. Ninety-six 1-day-old chicks were randomly allocated into three groups, with three replicates each: vaccinated control (G1), vaccinated and NSS/βG-supplemented (G2), and non-vaccinated, non-supplemented (G3). G3 was further divided into NDV-challenged positive controls (G3A) and negative controls (G3B). the G3 . All groups, except the negative controls, were challenged with NDV at 35 day of age (D). Dietary supplementation tended to enhance ND-, IBD-, and AI-specific antibody titers following vaccination. After NDV challenge, both vaccinated groups showed markedly reduced mortality compared with the positive control (40%), while G2 exhibited significantly lower oropharyngeal viral shedding than G1 (P<0.05). The thymus index significantly increased in G2 at 14, 21, 28, and 35 D. Compared with G2, G1 showed inferior growth performance, antioxidant capacity, erythrocyte indices, and leukocyte profiles at 21 D (P<0.05). These parameters were significantly improved in G2, accompanied by higher expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (14.37-fold vs. 8.69-fold in G1). Enhanced innate immunity in G2 was indicated by increased phagocytic activity and index and a reduced heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Intestinal histomorphology was compromised in G1 compared with G3, whereas G2 consistently exhibited the greatest villus height and crypt depth at both sampling ages (P<0.05). In conclusion, combined NSS and βG supplementation enhances vaccine efficacy, immune competence, growth performance, intestinal health, antioxidant status, and protection against NDV in broiler chickens.

Key words: growth performance, Newcastle disease, virus, chickens, vaccine, Nigella sativa, β-glucan, infection


 
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Pubmed Style

El-gbily S, Diabb R, El-shall NA. Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge. AJVS. 2026; 90(0): 271-284. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320393

Web Style

El-gbily S, Diabb R, El-shall NA. Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge. https://www.alexjvs.com/?mno=320393 [Access: July 27, 2026]. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320393

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

El-gbily S, Diabb R, El-shall NA. Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge. AJVS. 2026; 90(0): 271-284. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320393


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

El-gbily S, Diabb R, El-shall NA. Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge. AJVS. (2026), [cited July 27, 2026]; 90(0): 271-284. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320393


Harvard Style

El-gbily, S., Diabb, . R. & El-shall, . N. A. (2026) Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge. AJVS, 90 (0), 271-284. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320393


Turabian Style

El-gbily, Shaimaa, Rasha Diabb, and Nahed A. El-shall. 2026. Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 90 (0), 271-284. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320393


Chicago Style

El-gbily, Shaimaa, Rasha Diabb, and Nahed A. El-shall. "Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge." Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 90 (2026), 271-284. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320393


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

El-gbily, Shaimaa, Rasha Diabb, and Nahed A. El-shall. "Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge." Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 90.0 (2026), 271-284. Print. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320393


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

El-gbily, S., Diabb, . R. & El-shall, . N. A. (2026) Combined Dietary Supplementation with Nigella sativa Seeds and β-Glucan Improves Growth, Intestinal Health, and Immune Response in Broilers, with Enhanced Protection against Newcastle Disease Virus Challenge. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 90 (0), 271-284. doi:10.5455/ajvs.320393




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    The Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences (AJVS) Official Journal of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University   ISSN: 1110-204 ... Read more.



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    Alexandria University
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    Abees 10th district, Alexandria
    Egypt.

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