EFFECTS OF ETHANOL ON DIFFERENT ORGANS AND ON FCR IN QUAILS
(COTURNIX JAPONICA)
M. TARIQ
JAVED, M. KHURAM SAEED, M. IRFAN, M. SIDDIQUE1
AND M. CAGIOLA2
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad;1Department
of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 2Istituto Zooprofilattico dell’Umbria e delle Marche, via G. Salvemini 106100
Perugia, Italy
Abstract
A study was planned to investigate the effects of different doses of ethanol on
body organs of Japanese quails. A total of 120 quails were randomly divided into
five groups, A, B, C, D and E. Quails of groups A, B, C and D were given ethanol
at concentrations of 2, 4, 8 and 16%,
respectively in drinking water for four weeks, while birds of group E served as
untreated control. The results at the end of 4th week revealed a
significant effect on relative weight of heart, kidney and lungs in most treated
groups. The increase in heart and lung weight was significant (P<0.05) in quail
given 4% and higher ethanol, of kidney given 2 to 8% ethanol, while
statistically no effect was observed on relative weight of liver. The relative
weight of the proventriculus and the intestine at 4th week also
showed statistically no difference compared to control group. However, the
weight of the gizzard at 4th week increased significantly (P0.05) in
groups given 8 to 16% ethanol and the increase was 42% in these groups compared
with control group. The lymphoid organs at the end of 4th week
revealed significant difference in weight of the bursa of Fabricius in quails
given 16% ethanol and of the thymus in quails given 4 to 16% ethanol.
Statistically, no difference was observed in spleen weight of treated groups
compared to control group. The gross and light microscopic examination failed to
reveal significant changes in these organs with routine methods of examination.
Ethanol showed a significant effect on feed conversion ratio which was poor in
ethanol treated groups; at the end of 4th week, it varied from 232 to
442% in groups given 8 and 16% ethanol, respectively.These data suggest that ethanol has significant effects on relative
weight of heart, kidney, lungs, thymus, and on feed conversion ratio in the
Japanese quails.