Influence of the lunar cycle on the immune response in growing chickens immunized with the Newcastle vaccine

A study will be conducted to evaluate the effect of the lunar cycle on the immune response in growing chickens immunized against Newcastle virus. The study will be carried out in facilities of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Cuenca, Ecuador. The subcutaneous vaccination, or application of a placebo, will be carried out between 2 and 7 days of age, and four weeks later, at four times of the lunar cycle: new moon, waxing moon, full moon and waning moon (60 animals per lunar phase, 30 vaccinated and 30 control). At day 42 of age, the birds will be euthanized by cervical dislocation with an emasculator. Blood will be collected in tubes with anticoagulant to quantify leukocytes, and without anticoagulant to determine the concentration of antibodies, total proteins and albumins in serum. Fabricio's spleen and bursa will be removed and weighed. A portion of spleen (30 mg) will be used to determine the gene expression of melatonin receptor 1a and interferon gamma, and interleukins 1, 4 and 6. The data obtained will be analyzed by analysis of variance, using the general linear model. The means will be compared with the least squares method.

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