Ochratoxin Induced Pathological Alterations in
Broiler Chicks: Effect of Dose and Duration
Muhammad Raza Hameed*, Muhammad Zargham Khan,
Ahrar Khan and Ijaz Javed1
Department of Pathology, 1Department
of Physiology and Pharmacology, University
of Agriculture,
Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan *Corresponding author:
razadrpk@yahoo.com
Abstract
The present study was designed
to evaluate the toxicopathological effects of feeding of ochratoxin contaminated
feeds to broiler chicks for 21 and 35 day. Two experiments were conducted
simultaneously. In
these experiment six groups each having 75 chicks were maintained and offered
feeds containing 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg OTA. Half of the birds
from each group of both experiments were killed on days 21 and 35, respectively.
Remaining birds of all the groups were switched to basal feed and killed on day
42 of the experiment. Birds killed in both experiments showed a significant
decrease in the feed intake and body weight in OTA fed groups. OTA associated
clinical signs and behavioral alterations included diarrhea, depression,
increased water intake and ruffled feathers. The highest mortality was 12 and 20
percent observed in birds fed 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg OTA, respectively. OTA fed birds
showed a significant increase in the relative weights of liver and kidney while
decrease in weight of bursa of Fabricius and thymus. Gross lesions in liver and
kidney included enlargement, paler discoloration and friable consistency and
hemorrhages. Microscopic changes in the kidneys included congestion and tubular
epithelial cell necrosis. Liver showed vacuolar degeneration along with
individual cell necrosis in birds fed 0.2-0.8 mg/kg OTA.Birds killed on day 35 of the intoxication showed changes similar to
those observed in 21 days old birds with the exception of increased severity of
these alterations in 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg OTA groups. In conclusion, present study
suggested that OTA induced pathological alterations were dependent upon dose and
duration of exposure.
Key words: Broilers,
Mycotoxins, Ochratoxin A,
Ochratoxicosis, Pathology