Hepatopathology of copper induced toxicity in ducks

The present work was designed to investigate the histological and histochemical changes in the liver of 3-month old domestic ducks following copper sulphate administration. Thirty ducks irrespective of sex were divided into three main groups. Group A (n=6) were administered 600mg/kg body weight of copper sulphate as single dose and Group B (n=18) were given a daily dose of 5mg/kg body weight for 12 weeks. Group C (n=6) served as control. The livers of the dead and sacrificed ducks of all the groups were processed for histological and histochemical study. Microscopically, liver of Group A and Group B ducks showed congestion, haemorrhages and necrosis of the hepatocytes with varying degrees of biliary epithelial cell proliferation. Enzymic activity of oxidoreductases showed decreased activity in the degenerated hepatocytes whereas increased activity in the proliferated biliary epithelial cells. Alkaline phosphatase showed increased activity in the bile canaliculi, sinusoids of the degenerated hepatocytes whereas decreased activity of acid phosphatase in the bile canaliculi of the degenerated hepatocytes. It was concluded the higher dose and repeated dosing of copper sulphate causes hepatic damage. This hepatotoxicity progressed with increasing cumulative doses of copper sulphate.