Pathological changes induced by acephate and its amelioration with vitamin E in broiler chicken

Acephate is one of the top ten organophosphate insecticides sold throughout the world. The present study was undertaken to assess the toxic effects of acephate and its amelioration, if any, with vitamin E. Ninety broiler chicks were divided into six groups of 15 birds in each and fed with acephate at the dose rates of 85.2 mg/kg and 170.4 mg/Kg feed for six weeks. In acephate-fed groups, gross pathological changes observed were moderate enlargement and paleness of liver, swollen and hemorrhagic kidneys, petechiae on pericardium, and mild congestion of brain. Histological changes comprised of fatty change in liver and kidney, degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes and tubular epithelium, myocardial degeneration with infiltration of mononuclear cells in muscle fibres, depletion of lymphocytes in spleen and cystic spaces in bursal follicles, with increased severity in higher dose group and age advancement. Ameliorative groups did not reveal any gross lesion and showed mild to moderate improvement in histological lesions. It was concluded that Acephate, fed at above levels, results in multiple organ toxicity. Supplementation of vitamin E at 300 mg/Kg feed ameliorated the toxic effects produced by acephate.