Pathological and immunological effects of sublethal experimental ochratoxicosis in broiler chickens Bharathi R.1, Pazhanivel N.1, Balachandran C.1,*, Raj G. Dhinakar2 1Department of Veterinary Pathology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil NaduVeterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai-600 007 2Department of Animal Biotechnology, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil NaduVeterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai-600 007 *Corresponding author: e-mail: cbalachandran2000@yahoo.com
Abstract Twelve newly hatched broiler chicks were divided into two groups (Control-6 Nos. and 100 ppb ochratoxin A (OA) fed-6 birds) and maintained up to 28 days. On 28th day, all the birds were sacrificed. Cell mediated and humoral immunity was assessed by lymphocyte stimulation index and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) respectively. Significant (P<0.05) decrease in the lymphocyte stimulation index and the antibody titres against IBV was observed in the OA fed group compared to the control group. Grossly, mild enlargement and paleness were observed in the liver and kidneys of the OA fed chicks. Histopathologically, in the OA fed birds major changes observed were mild vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes, microgranuloma formation, biliary hyperplasia and periportal fibrosis in liver; congestion, tubular epithelial cell degeneration and necrosis in kidneys; mucosal hyperplasia in the crop; mucosal hyperplasia and glandular necrosis in the proventriculus; defective koilin formation, mononuclear cell infiltration and periglandular fibrosis in the gizzard; fusion and broadening of villi in the intestine; congestion, mild lymphoid cell depletion, reticular cell hyperplasia and lymphoid cell necrosis in the spleen, thinning of cortex, lymphoid cell depletion and lymphocytolysis in the bursa of Fabricius and congestion and mild lymphoid depletion in the thymus. Lymphoid organs showed presence of apoptotic bodies which indicated immunosuppressive effect of OA, evidenced by reduction in humoral and cell mediated immunity. Top Keywords Broiler chicks, Cell mediated and humoral immunity, Ochratoxin, Pathological effects. Top |