Present study was designed to investigate the toxico-pathological effects of cadmium in female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and their attenuation by silymarin. A total of 120 quail chicks of four weeks of age were assigned into six groups and given basal feed, Cd₁ (150 mg.kg⁻¹ feed), Cd₂ (300 mg.kg⁻¹ feed) and SL (250 mg.kg⁻¹ feed) alone and in combinations for 60 days. Hematological parameters, serum biochemical profile, feed intake, bodyweights, relative organ weights, egg production and histopathological alterations in kidney and oviduct were noted. Our results showed dose dependent decrease in mean relative weight of oviduct but increase in liver, intestine, kidney and spleen in groups treated with Cd only. Feed intake was decreased in Cd groups compared with control and bodyweight of Cd treated groups was lower as compared with control and SL groups. The Hb and PCV values were low but higher values of blood urea, creatinine, and serum activity of AST and ALT were observed in Cd treated groups only. Reduced height of mucosal folds collapsed tubular glands, nuclear degenerative changes and infiltration of plasma cells in parenchymatous tissue of oviduct were observed in Cd treated groups only. Moreover, Cd exposure resulted into hemorrhage, casts in tubules, infiltration of mononuclear cells, tubular necrosis and fibrosis in kidneys. Egg production was also lower in Cd treated groups as compared with control group.   It may be concluded that Cd has strong nephrotoxic and gonadotoxic effects and SL may effectively ameliorate these toxic effects completely at lower doses but partially at higher doses of Cd.

To Cite This Article: Butt SL, Saleemi MK, Khan MZ, Khan A, Farooq M, Khatoon A, Bhatti SA, Tahir MW, Islam NU, Jamil H and Muhammad F, 2018. Cadmium toxicity in female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and its diminution with silymarin. Pak Vet J, 38(3): 249-255. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2018.062