Effect of T-2 toxin on haematological and serum biochemical parameters and immune response status in turkey poults Prasath N. Babu2, Rao Ganne Venkata Sudhakar2, Balachandran C.*,2, Manohar B. Murali1,2 2Department of Veterinary Pathology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai-600 007 1Centre for Animal Health Studies, TANUVAS, Chennai-600 051, Tamil Nadu, India *Corresponding author e-mail: cbalachandran2000@yahoo.com
Abstract The present work was undertaken to study changes in certain haematological and serum biochemical parameters and immune response in T-2 toxin fed turkey poults. Known amount of T-2 toxin containing powdered wheat culture were incorporated into the toxin free turkey prestarter mash to yield 1 and 3 ppm T-2 toxin. Thirty newly hatched Beltsville Small White turkey poults were randomly allotted to three groups of 10 poults each (0, 1 and 3 ppm) and fed toxin mixed diets from day 1 to 28 days of age. PCV and Hb levels decreased significantly (P<0.05). Serum glucose level increased and lipid profiles decreased significantly (P<0.05) in toxin fed poults. Serum AST, ALT and ALP values increased significantly (P<0.05) in T-2 toxin groups, when compared to control. The mean ± SE ELISA titres were 4.883 ± 0.25, 4.568 ± 0.31 and 3.099 ± 0.15 and stimulation index 0.448 ± 0.10, 0.315 ± 0.27 and -0.195 ± 0.10 in the control, 1 ppm and 3 ppm T-2 toxin groups, respectively. Thus T-2 toxin was found to cause anaemia, hyperglycaemia, hypolipidaemia, elevation of serum AST, ALT and ALP levels and exert immunosuppressive effects in turkey poults. Top Keywords Cell-mediated immunity, Haematology, Humoral immunity, Serum biochemistry, T-2 toxin, Turkey poults. Top |