Pathobiochemical and immunological changes in experimental aflatoxicosis

Day-old broiler chicks were fed aflatoxin @ 1 ppm level in the feed from 7th day to 7th week of age. Chicks appeared dull and depressed with mortality rate (3.33%) and lowered mean body weight gain upto 42 days post feeding (DPF). Mean percentage ratio of liver was increased upto 42 DPF. Grossly, pale and enlarged liver, mild enlargement of spleen and kidney's progressive atrophy of bursa and thymus were noticed. Microscopically, degeneration and fatty infiltration in liver, congestion and haemorrhages in kidneys and lungs, depletion of lymphocytes in spleen, thymus, bursa of Fabricius and caecal tonsils were observed. Chicks were anemic as indicated by progressively lowered haematocrit values. Biochemical estimations revealed lowered levels of total serum protein, albumin, globulin and significant increase in the levels of SGPT, SGOT and alkaline phosphatase till 42 DPF. Immunosuppressive ef1ect of aflatoxin was revealed by lowered humoral as well as cell mediated immune response.