pathological study of hepatic lesions after experimental aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens

ABSTRACT

To study gross and histopathologic lesions and also relative weight of liver in experimental aflatoxicosis in Ross broiler chicks. Experimental study. Two hundred and forty 1-day-old Ross broiler chicken. Linear model analysis and Duncan's method for mean values with S AS package. The chickens were fed by NRC [1994] diet. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. The diets were divided into 3 groups control [0 or basal] and treatment with 1 and 2 ppm of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin was produced by infecting of autoclaved rice with Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL-2999 in the flasks and titrated by TLC and HPLC. After 21 and 42 days, three chickens from each group randomly killed and their livers were weighed. Tissue samples were collected and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5 um and stained by haematoxylin and eosin [H and E]. Relative weights of the livers [g/l00g.b.w] in treatment groups were significantly increased as compared with control [p<0.05]. Histopathologic examination revealed severe fatty change, regeneration foci of liver cells, fibrosis of portal regions and bile ductule hyperplasia. The lesions were very severe in 42-days-old chickens and had the lesser severity in 21-days-old chickens. Liver is the target organ for aflatoxin. Aflatoxin causes severe lesions in the liver and increases its relative weight.Prolonged exposure to low concentrations of toxin produces severe changes in fat metabolism and bile ductules proliferation