Effect of Ochratoxin-A on pathology of hydropericardium syndrome in broiler chicken Madhuri D.*,1, Verma P.C.1 1Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Ch. Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana *Corresponding author Email: madhurighanta@yahoo.com
Abstract A study has been conducted to find out the effect of ochratoxin A on the pathology of hydropericardium syndrome in broiler chicken. A total of 140, day - old broiler chicks were divided into two groups (XC and OC) of 70 chicks each, respectively. The chicks in the group OC were given ochratoxin A in the feed @1.5 ppm from day 1 to 28 days of experiment. At the age of 21, chicks in the two groups were further subdivided into XC and XH and OC and OH consisting of 25 and 45 chicks, respectively. The birds in groups XH and OH were inoculated subcutaneously with 0.5 ml of hydropericardium syndrome liver inoculum at day 21 of age. Except for decreased growth rate in OC group no other clinical signs were observed in control groups. A high mortality (60.60%) was observed in OH group as compared to (30.30%) the XH group. The characteristic pathological changes in HPS infected birds were hydropericardium, hepatitis, myocarditis, interstitial nephritis and lymphocytic depletion in lymphoid organs. The intensity of lesions was more severe and persisted for longer duration in ochratoxin A fed birds indicating additive effect of ochratoxin. Top Keywords Chickens, Hydropericardium, Ochratoxin, Pathology, Syndrome. Top |