Abstract

Chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) is a significant immunosuppressive pathogen that compromises both cellular and humoral immune functions in poultry. The present study aimed to evaluate the immunosuppressive effects of neem liquid extract, acyclovir, and haemocare on CIAV infection by assessing hematological parameters, oxidative stress markers, phagocytic activities, DNA damage, and bone marrow analysis. One hundred and five one-day-old broiler chickens of both sexes were divided into seven equal groups. Group 1 was the control; uninfected and untreated, Group 2 was infected intramuscularly (IM) with 1 mL (104.5 TCID50 /0.1 mL) of CIAV-infected cell culture supernatant per chicken at 12 days of age, Group 3 was pre-treated with acyclovir (10 mg/kg IM daily for three days) starting at 9 days of age, infected with 1 mL of CIAV-infected cells at 12 days of age, Group 4 was pre-treated with neem (50 mL/Liter) in drinking water from day one until the end of the experiment, infected with 1 mL of CIAV-infected cells at 12 days of age, and subsequently treated with acyclovir (10 mg/kg IM daily) for two weeks starting at 15 days of age after the appearance of clinical signs, Group 5 was pre-treated with neem (50 mL/Liter), infected with 1 mL of CIAV-infected cells, and then post-treated with neem and hemocare (5 mL per 100 chickens in drinking water) for two weeks, commencing from day 15, Group 6 was pre-treated with neem (50 mL/Liter), infected with CIAV, and post-treated with a combination of neem, acyclovir, and hemocare (5 mL per 100 chickens), and Group 7 was infected with CIAV and post-treated with acyclovir at 10 mg/kg IM daily for two weeks. The results indicated normocytic normochromic anemia, with decreased antioxidant and phagocytic activities, and increased DNA damage in thymus tissue in CIAV-infected chickens. In conclusion, pre- and post-treatment with neem liquid extract, either alone or combined with acyclovir and haemocare, improved hematological parameters, oxidative stress markers, and phagocytic activities, while reducing DNA damage caused by CIAV infection in broiler chickens.