Aflatoxin B₁ induced pathomorphological changes in chick embryos

The effect of aflatoxin B₁ in chick embryos at different doses (0.025, 05 and 0.1mg) was studied. The aflatoxin B₁ was administered to chick embryos via yolk sac route on seventh day of incubation. The pathomorphological changes in liver and various lymphoid organs were recorded. Grossly, congestion and paleness of liver and reduction in size of bursa and thymus were observed in embryos and chicks at day of hatching. Microscopically, the lesions observed in the liver included dilatation of sinusoids with congestion, focal to multifocal areas of hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis with mononuclear cell infiltration. The changes observed in bursa, thymus and spleen were haemorrhages, reduced granulopoietic activity, lymphocytolysis and depletion of lymphoid cells, atrophy of follicles, and proliferation of histiocytes with lymphophagocytosis.