Effects of Cadmium and Spirulina platensis Administration on Serum Biochemical Attributes in Chickens

Rashid H, Batra M and Chauhan RS (2020). Effects of Cadmium and Spirulina platensis Administration on Serum Biochemical Attributes in Chickens. Journal of Immunology Immunopathology, 22(2): 167–174.

One hundred chicks of one day age were divided randomly into five groups of 20 birds each. After two weeks of adaptation, group I was kept as control, group II was fed with 0.2% Spirulina platensis powder only till 90^th day post treatment (DPT). Group III was administered 1.6 ppm cadmium as cadmium chloride monohydrate (CdCl₂.H₂o) in triple glass distilled water. Groups IV and V were administered 1.61 ppm cadmium in triple glass distilled water along with Spirulina platensis powder orally in standard recommended feed at the rate of 0.2% concentration. However, in Group V Spirulina platensis powder was given from 60^th DPT till 90^th DPT. For biochemical studies, the serum was separated from blood samples, collected from each group at 0, 15^th, 30^th, 45^th, 60^th, 75^th and 90^th DPT. There was significant decrease in total serum protein and albumin but significant increase in creatinine and uric acid in groups III and V, compared to group I, whereas serum globulin varied significantly at 90^th DPT. There was insignificant change in total protein, albumin, serum creatinine and uric acid in group IV as compared to group III and V, respectively. There was a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in groups III and V with respect to group I, whereas in group IV, these enzymes were significantly lower as compared to groups III and V, respectively. It was concluded from the present study that cadmium fed at NOEL (1.61 ppm) levels for 90 days is toxic. Cadmium at NOEL dose fed concurrently with Spirulina platensis nullifies the toxic effects of cadmium. However, Spirulina fed after accumulation of cadmium at NOEL dose is not able to reverse the adverse effects.