EFFECT OF MICRO ALGAE (SPIRULINA PLATENSES) AS DIETARY ADDITIVE ON BLOOD METABOLITES, ANTIOXDANT STATUS AND IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF GROWING BARKI LAMBS

This study aimed to detect the effect of the dietary addition of Spirulina platensis on blood metabolites, thyroid hormones activity, oxidative stress markers and immunological responses of growing Barki lambs. Total number of 30 Barki lambs were used in the present study and randomly divided into three equal groups, G1: lambs were fed a basal diet without Spirulina platensis supplementation, while, lambs of G2 and G3 were fed diets containing 1.5 and 3% dried Spirulina platensis for 60 days. Results cleared that the diet contained Spirulina platensis especially 3% improved (P<0.05) the body-weight gain, blood hemoglobin concentration, increased the total leucocytes count enhanced the blood antioxidant defense system (total antioxidant capacity catalase and superoxide dismutase activities) and immunoglobulin’s production. However, both 1.5 and 3% Spirulina platensis supplementation decreased (P<0.05) serum glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol concentrations, blood markers of tissue damage and suppressed the proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis alpha and interlukin-6). Indeed, Spirulina platensis significantly improved the thyroid hormones activities by dose-dependent trendy. In conclusion, feeding on diet containing 1.5 or 3% Spirulina platensis was suitable and safe for Barki lambs nutrition to efficiently improve antioxidant status, immunological responses and may protect lambs against oxidative stress and inflammations.