PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES AND FAECAL EXCRETION LEVELS SEEN IN BROILER CHICKS AFTER A SINGLE ORAL DOSE OF AFLATOXIN B1

Abstract

Three hundred Shaver starbo, broiler, 5-day-old chicks were divided into 3 groups and given in group 1 sterile water, group 2 olive oil and group 3 aflatoxin B1. The effect of aflatoxin B1(5mg/kg) after the single oral dose was studied, observing clinical signs, blood chemistry, pathology, and excretion levels in faeces over a period of 10 days. Chicks in group 3 showed depression and decreased feed intake. Blood chemistry, especially blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was significantly different between the three groups
although still in the normal range. Gross pathology revealed petechial hemorrhages developing on day 2 (87.5 %) and pale yellowish in color between days 3-9 (87.5-62.5%). The relative weight of the liver in group 3 was not significantly increased (p>0.05) in comparison with groups 1 and 2. The kidneys were swollen and pale yellowish in color on days 2-3 (87.5-75%). Erosion and ulceration of the gizzard mucosa was seen between days 2-8 (87.5-62.5%). Histopathology showed centrilobular to panlobular, fatty
degeneration, in moderate to severe degree and hepatic cells necrosis with bile duct proliferation between days 1-4. Hepatocytes showed regenerative changes with a mild degree of panlobular fatty degeneration between days 5-6. Hepatic cell cords were distorted, causing atrophy of the bile duct epithelium with f ibroblastic scarring of hepatic tissue between days 7-8. Hepatocytes were completely regenerated by days
9-10. The Kidneys showed a mild to moderate degree of tubulonephrosis on days 2-3. The excretion of aflatoxin B1 in faeces was at it's highest on day 1, decreased remarkedly by day 3 and continuing to decreased utill the end of the observations.