ABSTRACT
Study of gross and histopathological lesions, relative weight changes of liver and kidney and biochemical parameters of chickens in experimentally induced aflatoxicosis. Experimental study. Three hundred and twenty one-day-old Ross broiler chickens. Linear model analysis and Duncan's method for mean values using SAS system. Chickens were categorized into 6 groups and fed with diets; without aflatoxin [group 1]; containing 2ppm of aflatoxin [group 2]; containing 2% of DM clinoptilolite. plus 2 ppm of aflatoxin [group 4]. Aflatoxin was produced by infecting the autoclaved rice with Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL-2999. After 21 and 42 days. Three chickens from each group were randomly selected, livers and kidneys weighed, tissues fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, sectioned [5 microm thickness] and stained with haematoxylin and eosin [H and E]. Blood samples were randomly collected in non-heparinized tubes from 12 birds at the end of third and sixth week of age in each treatment group. Serum analyzed for total protein, albumin, cholesterol, LDH,ALP and AST values. Relative weights of the livers and kidneys [g/100g.b.w.] in group 3 showed significant increase compare to control [p<0.05]. histopathological examination revealed mild fatty changes, mild fibrosis and bile ductule hyperplasia in portal regions of chicken in group 3. Serum cholesterol, total protein and albumin showed decrease in affected chickens with aflatoxicosis [p<0.05]. The toxin fed group had higher LDH and AST activity and lower ALP activity. The results suggest that clinoptilolite [2% of DM] effectively diminished the detrimental effects of AF on the liver and biochemical parameters of serum. There were no pathological changes in liver of chickens that received clinoptilolite [2%] in diet [group 3]