Abstract

The present experimental work was conducted to elucidate the biochemical changes in broiler chicken after ziram intoxication. For the study, 150 apparently healthy broiler chicks were reared together up to 2 weeks of age and thereafter allocated randomly to four groups, that is, control (n=30), acute (n=10), subacute (n=20) and subchronic (n=90). Toxicity was induced following single oral dose of Ziram at 100 mg/kg body weight for acute intoxication, 5 mg/kg body weight per day for 20 days in case of subacute group and 1 mg/kg body weight per day for the study period of 90 days in case subchronic intoxication. The mean values of liver function test viz. serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and bilirubin in acute intoxicated birds at 24 h post intoxication, subacute and subchronic groups were significantly (p<0.05) higher when compared with the control group. Further in kidney function test, a significant (p<0.05) increase in the mean values of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was recorded in acute ziram intoxicated birds at 24 h interval and subchronic groups but no significant (p>0.05) effect was observed in the subacute group when compared with the control. The creatinine levels increased significantly (p<0.05) in all the intoxicated birds compared to control. Moreover, a significantly (p<0.05) higher increase in the zinc levels was observed in all the intoxicated birds compared with the control. The mean serum copper and calcium levels were significantly (p<0.05) lower in all the intoxicated birds compared to the control. In conclusion, the results were suggestive of the fact that ziram caused hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in broiler chicken.

Key words: Broiler chicken, kidney function test (KFT), liver function test (LFT), toxicity, minerals, Ziram.