Oral administration of silver nanoparticles–adorned starch as a growth promotor in poultry: Immunological and histopathological study

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently emerged as promising growth promoters and immune-lifting agents in the poultry industry. This study investigated the potential impact of AgNP supplementation in the drinking water (DW) of broiler chickens during the fattening period. AgNPs were produced through chemical reduction using starch as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Different concentrations (1–5 ppm) of AgNPs were prepared and added to the DW of five different groups of chickens. Results confirmed efficient and safe application of AgNPs in DW at concentrations up to 2 ppm in term of growth performance (body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio) and hematological parameters. However, higher concentrations (3–5 ppm) induced dose-dependent mild-to-moderate adverse effects on hematological, biochemical, and oxidative parameters (MDA, TAC, and GSH-px). While growth performance, gene expression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA),and insulin-like growth factor (IGF1) in muscle, histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of liver, kidney, spleen, bursa, and thymus, and ultrastructural analysis of breast muscle were not significantly affected, even at high concentrations of AgNPs. Therefore, supplementation of AgNPs up to 2 ppm in the DW of broilers is promising.