Pathomorphological changes in broiler chickens with combined aflatoxin and Eimeria spp. infection Kumar Pradeep3, Rao P.G. Suguna3,*, Sathyanarayana M.L.3, Byregowda S.M.1,3, Puttalakshmamma G.C.2,3 3Department of Veterinary Pathology, Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary BiologicalsKarnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Hebbal, Bangalore 1Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary BiologicalsKarnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Hebbal, Bangalore 22Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), Hebbal, Bangalore *Corresponding author; e-mail: sugunabg@yahoo.com
Abstract Pathomorphological changes were studied in combined aflatoxin (AF) and Eimeria sp. infection. Aflatoxin B1 was fed to broiler chickens at the rate of 1 ppm for five weeks and sporulated oocysts of mixed sp. of Eimeria orally at the dose rate of 50,000/bird on 21st day of age. Hepatomegaly with petechial haemorrhages in the liver and regression of thymus and bursa were consistent in all the aflatoxin alone fed birds. Histologically, congestion, haemorrhage, fatty changes with biliary hyperplasia in liver and lymphoid cell depletion were observed in lymphoid organs. Distension of the caecum with frank blood was seen in all the Eimeria infected groups in acute phase with histopathological evidences of haemorrhage, mucosal sloughing and numerous developing stages of Eimeria in mucosal epithelial cells. In the combined infection with AF and Eimeria, the lesions were more pronounced with total loss of caecal architecture and severe liver damage. Reconstruction of lost architecture of intestine commenced early in the Eimeria alone fed group but was delayed in the combination group. The gross and histopathological lesions in the caecum of birds challenged with aflatoxin and Eimeria tenella oocysts in combination were more severe in comparison to the Eimeria tenella alone challenged birds and recovery from coccidiosis was delayed in the combination group. Top Keywords Aflatoxin, Caecum, Coccidiosis, Eimeria tenella, Patho-morphology. Top |