Sequential haematological and biochemical changes in experimentally induced hydropericardium syndrome in immunocompromised broiler chickens

The effects of cyclosporin A (T-cell suppressor) was studied in chickens experimentally infected with hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) virus. Forty five broiler chicks at the age of 18 days were injected with cyclosporin A @100mg/kg body weight by intramuscular route and subsequently at 3 days intervals upto the age of 30 days while forty five birds were injected with placebo of ethanol and castor oil only. At the age of 21 days, each group was further divided into two subgroups and the birds of one of the subgroups from each group were inoculated with HPS virus infected liver suspension (ID₅₀) subcutaneously. Haematological studies revealed the significant decrease in Hb concentrations in both the infected groups on days 4 and 6 PI and total leucocyte count from day 4 PI but in CsA plus HPS group the decrease in TLC was significant from day 2 PI and the values were significantly lower as compared to HPS group at different intervals. This decrease in TLC was due to lymphocytopenia. Biochemical studies revealed the significant decrease in serum total protein and albumin concentrations in HPS group as compared to control from days 4 to 9 PI and significant increase in the activities of serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase though the increased activities of these enzymes were of higher magnitude in CsA plus HPS group. In the pericardial fluid too, the activities of these enzymes were significantly higher in CsA plus HPS group as compared to HPS group. It may be concluded that the severity of HPS infection was of higher magnitude in the immunocompromised chickens.