Pathological studies on diclofenac toxicity in Cobb-100 and WLH male chicks

A pathological study on diclofenac toxicity was studied by feeding @ 15 ppm and 150 ppm to Cobb-100 broilers and WLH male chicks upto 42 days of age. The drug was administered continuously from day 1, day 8, day 15 and day 22 to different groups in both the strains. One group of each strain was given diclofenac @ 150 ppm from day 1 age. Clinical signs and mortality were detected in Cobb-100 groups receiving diclofenac from day 1, day 8 and day 15 and in 150 ppm group with mortality of 30%, 25%, 5% and 100%, respectively. In WLH male chicks no clinical signs and mortality were recorded in 15 ppm groups while 150 ppm group showed 50% mortality. Post-mortem lesions and histopathological findings were suggestive of visceral gout in Cobb-100 chicks and articular gout in WLH male chicks. Plasma uric acid analysis revealed significant increase in the treatment groups of both Cobb-100 and WLH male chicks. Results indicated that broilers were most susceptible to nephrotoxic effect of diclofenac compared to cockerels because of lower kidney body weight ratio. Broilers at younger age were more susceptible to the toxic effect.