PATHOLOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL FFECTS
OF SALINOMYCIN ON
LAYER CHICKS
F. RIZVI, A. D. ANJUM, A. KHAN, M. MOHSAN AND M.
SHAHZAD
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of
Agriculture,
Faisalabad,
Pakistan
Abstract
Effects of continuous and over dosage of salinomycin was studied
experimentally in layer chicks. Salinomycin was given to layers @ 60,
120 and 180 ppm in feed up to the age of 12 weeks. During the course of
trial, the birds of all groups were active and did not show any clinical
signs. Body weight started decreasing significantly (P<0.001) in chicks
receiving 60, 120 and 180 ppm salinomycin compared to the control group
from the 11th, 5th and 3rdweek onward, respectively. Feed conversion ratio at 12th
week was 3.537 in the control compared with 3.701, 4.250 and 4.465 in
layer chicks given salinomycin at the rate of 60, 120 and 180 ppm,
respectively. Absolute weight of liver at 12th week and
absolute weight of kidneys throughout the experiment decreased
significantly (P<0.001) in chicks receiving 180 ppm salinomycin.
Concentrations of AST,ALT,
blood urea and creatinine were higher in layers receiving 180 ppm
salinomycin, while serum total bilirubin concentration was increased
significantly (P<0.001) in layers receiving 120 and 180 ppm salinomycin.
No gross lesions were observed in liver and kidneys of layers receiving
various doses of salinomycin. Microscopically, there was congestion of
liver sinusides and vacuolization of hepatocytes in chicks receiving 180
ppm salinomycin. There was hydropic degeneration of tubular epithelium,
degeneration and desquamation of most of cells of Bowman’s capsule
epithelium of kidneys in birds receiving 180 ppm salinomycin. Higher
doses of salinomycin seem to alter liver and kidney functions
subclinically in layer chicks.
Key
words: Pathological and biochemical changes,
salinomycin, layer chicks.