Pathological studies on aflatoxicosis in an organized duck farm in Uttar Pradesh, India Kohale Sayali1, Sharma Megha1, Govindhasamy S.1, Dhama Kuldeep1, Mariappan Asok Kumar1,* 1Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India *Address for Correspondence: Dr M. Asok Kumar, Scientist (SS), Avian disease section, Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India, E-mail: drasokvet@gmail.com
Online Published on 20 June, 2023. Abstract Ducks are highly susceptible to aflatoxicosis, but severe hepatic damage leading to biliary duct hyperplasia is uncommonly reported in ducks. This study dealt with 60-day-old White Pekin ducks on a farm with a history of nervous signs followed by sudden death. Examination of the carcasses showed swollen, necrotic, friable, and icteric livers with severe pseudo-lobulation, giving them a mottled appearance. Along with nephromegaly and splenomegaly, there were widespread suffusions on the mandibular, neck and thigh muscles. Histopathological evaluation revealed marked fibrosis and hyperplasia of the biliary epithelium, constricting hepatocytes in the middle of the biliary duct bridges. Hepatocytes showed hypertrophy along with fatty changes including both micro-and macro-vesicles. There was marked immunosignallingfor proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the hyperplastic biliary epithelial cells. Other lesions included widespread haemorrhages in the skeletal muscles, lymphoid depletion, and reticular cell proliferation in the spleen. Further investigation by thin layer chromatography confirmed the presence of aflatoxin B1 in the feed and gizzard contents. Here in this study, we found substantial liver damage associated with biliary ductule proliferation, most likely as a result of aflatoxin B1-exo-8,9-epoxide DNA adduct formation, which eventually lead to mortality in ducks. Top Keywords Aflatoxin B1, Biliary duct hyperplasia, Ducks, Proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Top |