Concurrent exposure to lead, selenium or monensin effects on hepatic porphyrin levels in broiler chickens during acute toxicosis

Acute Toxicosis of selenium and monensin produced a significant increase in uro- and corpoporphyrin levels. Results also indicated that acute lead toxicosis increased liver porphyrins levels of broiler chickens. This was further aggravated when selenium or monensin were administrated concurrently. This experiment indicated presence of an interaction between lead and selenium or monensin in elevation of porphyrins in the liver tissue of the broiler chickens

Pyrethroid-Induced Reproductive Toxico-Pathology in Non-Target Species

Pesticides used against agricultural pests and ecto-parasite infestation in animals may also induce injurious effects in humans, pets and farm animals. The pyrethroid pesticides are rapidly replacing other insecticides due to relatively lower toxicity for mammals. However, they have now become an environmental issue due to excessive use in agriculture, livestock production, leather industry and shampoos etc. In addition to various clinical, hemato-biochemical, immunosuppressive and neuro-toxicological effects of pyrethroids, more danger has been suspected with respect to reproductive toxicity. The fetal resorption and early fetal mortality rate were found to be significantly increased in female animals allowed mating with males exposed to pyrethroids. The testicular and epididymal sperm counts and serum testosterone concentrations in pyrethroid treated animals were decreased. Moreover, abnormal spermatozoa, degenerated spermatozoa, arrested spermatogenesis and connective tissue proliferation in testes, and tailless spermatozoa in epididymis were reported with pyrethroid exposure. A decrease in pregnancy rate, number of implantation sites and total number of recovered fetuses have also been reported in female animals receiving pyrethroid treatment during gestation and allowed mating with untreated male rabbits. The progeny of pyrethroid exposed parents also showed toxic effects. Disruption of certain steroidogenic enzymes and nuclear receptors in has been reported in pyrethroid exposed animals. This review concludes that pyrethroid exposure is responsible for endocrine disruption and decreases fertility in both sexes of various non-target species and produces fetal mortality, which may be prevented by vitamin E supplementation due to its anti-oxidant potential

Yeast sludge and its components ameliorate ochratoxin Ainduced toxicity in broiler chicks

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of yeast sludge (YS) and its components against ochratoxin A (OTA) in broiler chicks. Methods: Ochratoxin A (OTA) was produced through solid state fermentation, and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 1250 one-day old broiler chicks of Arbreaker breed were randomly assigned to five diet groups (A - E) replicated five times in such a way that each replicate had 50 chicks. The five diet groups were: A (normal poultry feed), B (200 µg/kg OTA), C (200 µg/kg OTA plus 2 g/kg YS), D (200 µg/kg OTA plus 2 g/kg yeast sludge cell mass, YSCM), and E (200 µg/kg OTA plus 2 g/kg yeast sludge cell wall (YSCW). The study lasted 35 days. Indices of liver and kidney functions were determined, as well as histopathological examination of samples of kidney, liver and bursa of Fabricius. Results: Supplementation of chicks diet with OTA at a dose of 200 ppb significantly reduced serum levels of total protein (TP), albumin, and creatinine, but significantly raised the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.05). However, inclusion of YS, YSCM, and YSCW in OTA-contaminated diet significantly reversed the effect of OTA on the indices of liver and kidney functions (p < 0.05). Yeast sludge and its components also significantly ameliorated OTA-induced histological changes in the liver, kidney and bursa of Fabricius. Conclusion: These results indicate that YS and it components improve hepatorenal function and histological changes induced by OTA

Application of Nanofluids for Thermal Management of Photovoltaic Modules: A Review

Mounting temperature impedes the conversion efficiency of photovoltaic systems. Studies have shown drastic efficiency escalation of PV modules, if cooled by nanofluids. Ability of nanofluids to supplement the efficiency improvement of PV cells has sought attention of researchers. This chapter presents the magnitude of improved efficiency found by different researchers due to the cooling via nanofluids. The effect of factors (such as, nanoparticle size, nanofluid concentration, flowrate of nanofluid and geometry of channel containing nanofluid) influencing the efficiency of PV systems has been discussed. Collective results of different researchers indicate that the efficiency of the PV/T systems (using nanofluids as coolant) increases with increasing flowrate. Efficiency of these systems increases with increasing concentration of nanofluid up to a certain amount, but as the concentration gets above this certain value, the efficiency tends to decline due to agglomeration/clustering of nanoparticles. Pertaining to the most recent studies, stability of nanoparticles is still the major unresolved issue, hindering the commercial scale application of nanofluids for the cooling of PV panels. Eventually, the environmental and economic advantages of these systems are presented

Ochratoxicosis in White Leghorn breeder hens: Production and breeding performance

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Ochratoxin A (OTA) upon production and breeding parameters in White Leghorn (WL) breeder hens. For this purpose, 84 WL breeder hens were divided into seven groups (A-G). The hens in these groups were maintained on feed contaminated with OTA @ 0.0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/Kg, respectively for 21 days. These hens were artificially inseminated with semen obtained from healthy roosters kept on OTA free feed. Egg production and their quality parameters were recorded. Fertile eggs obtained from each group were set for incubation on weekly basis. At the end of the experiment, hens in each group were killed to determined gross and microscopic lesions in different organs. OTA residue concentrations were determined in extracts of liver, kidneys and breast muscles by immunoaffinity column elution and HPLC-Fluorescent detection techniques. Feeing OTA contaminated diet resulted in a significant decrease in egg mass and egg quality parameters. Liver and kidneys showed characteristic lesions of ochratoxicosis. Residue concentration (ng/g) of OTA in the hens fed 10 mg/kg OTA, was the highest in liver (26.336±1.16) followed by kidney (8.223±0.85) and were least in breast muscles (1.235±0.21). Embryonic mortalites were higher, while hatachabilites of the chicks were lower in the groups fed higher doses of OTA. Feeding OTA contaminated diets to breeder hen resulted in residues accumulation in their tissues along with significantly reduced production and breeding performance

Pathological and Molecular Based Study of Naturally Occurring Lentivirus Infection

The present study describes the multicentric lymphosarcoma associated with lymphoid interstitial pneumonia in indigenous breeds of sheep and goats in Pakistan. Serum samples from sheep (n=93) and goats (n=129) were screened for ovine lentivirus using agar gel immunodiffusion test. Overall, 7.52 and 3.87% seroprevalence was recorded in sheep and goat, respectively. During necropsy of sheep (n=3) and goats (n=4), gross lesions including dark color liver with multifocal whitish areas, unilaterally lungs consolidation with granular appearance of cut surface were observed. Mediastinal lymph nodes were swollen and arranged in chain like fashion. Histopathologically, liver parenchyma exhibited extensive proliferation of neoplastic cells of lymphocytic series. Metastatic cells in the form of follicular pattern in the lungs, spleen and mediastinal lymph nodes were also observed. Brain tissue exhibited degenerative changes in the neuron and perivascular cuffing. The PCR product size approximately 300 bp from lung tissue confirmed viral infection

Arsenic Induced Toxicity in Broiler Chicks and Its Amelioration with Ascorbic Acid: Clinical, Hematological and Pathological Study

This study was conducted to observe the arsenic (As) toxicity lesions in birds and to know either Vit C ameliorates these toxic effects or not. One-day-old broilers chicks (n=72) procured from a local hatchery were randomly divided into four equal groups. First group was kept as control and second group was given As (50 mg/kg BW) via crop tubing. Third group received in addition to As, Vit C (250 mg/kg BW) whereas fourth group received only Vit C. Killing by neck dislocation of randomly selected six birds from each group was carried out on experimental days 0, 16 and 32 for collection of blood and tissues specimens. Arsenic treated birds showed clinical signs of toxicity throughout the experiment than all other groups. These clinical signs included decreased body weight and feed intake, dullness, open mouth breathing, increased thirst, ruffled feathers, pale comb, skin irritation and watery diarrhea which were not significant in any other group. As treated group showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in hematological parameters. Severe gross and histopathological changes were observed in intestines, spleen and lungs of birds fed with As than all other groups. Decreased height of villi of middle portion of small intestines was also observed in As treated birds. Villi height in Vit C treated group increased as compared to control group. It was concluded that As induces severe toxic effects in broiler birds; however, these toxic effects can be partially ameliorated by Vit C

Ameliorative role of dietary activated carbon against ochratoxin-A induced oxidative damage, suppressed performance and toxicological effects

The present study reports that dietary addition of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 g/kg activated charcoal (AC) in broiler feed contaminated with 0.15, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg ochratoxin A (OTA) showed a partial reduction in intensity of mycotoxins induced toxic effects; particularly against those induced at lower doses of toxin (0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg). The protection by AC was absent against 1.0 mg/kg OTA-mediated toxicities. Moreover, AC at 10 g/kg feed also imparted toxicological effects in broiler chicken. It can be concluded that AC possess limited adsorptive potential against OTA and increasing the dose of AC may be detrimental for animal health.The authors highly acknowledge the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for funding this study to first author under HEC Indigenous PhD fellowship program batch VII

Dietary Trichosporon mycotoxinivoron modulates ochratoxin-A induced altered performance, hepatic and renal antioxidant capacity and tissue injury in broiler chickens

Ochratoxin A (OTA), an important fungal metabolite in foods and feeds has been shown to induce oxidative stress and cellular injuries to human and animal subjects. This study was designed to investigate the mode of action of a biological modifier Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans (TM), against OTA-mediated oxidative stress and tissue toxicity on broiler chickens. The birds were offered diets supplemented with OTA (0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg feed) and/or TM (0.5, 1.0 g/kg) for 42 days of age, and blood and tissue samples were collected to examine the oxidative stress, biochemical and histopathological parameters. Dietary OTA at all the tested levels induced the hepatic and renal tissue injury as indicated by significant decreased total antioxidant capacity in these organs along with significant decreased (p ≤ 0.05) serum concentrations of total proteins and albumin. The serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and urea were significantly increased, and these observations were further supported by degenerative changes and increased relative weights of liver and kidneys. The dietary supplementation of TM at both tested levels relieved the detrimental impact of 0.15 and 0.3 mg OTA/kg on the studied parameters. The results of the study demonstrated that dietary TM significantly protects broiler chickens by reducing OTA-induced oxidative damage and tissue injury.The publication of this article was funded by the Qatar National Library

Toxicopathological effects of endosulfan in female Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica)

Background: The current study was planned to investigate the toxico-pathological effects of endosulfan in female Japanese quails.Methods: A total of 120 quail of 4 weeks old were divided into six equal groups (A-F) and administered endosulfan in feed at dose rate of 0, 5, 25, 50, 100, and 500 mg/kg feed, respectively for 90 days. Parameters studied included clinical signs, feed intake, body weight and mortality. Hematology, serum biochemistry, hatchability and fertility were also determined. Gross and microscopic changes on different organs were recorded.Results: The quails of the group B did not show any clinical signs and had significantly lower values of feed intake, testes relative weight and leukocyte number than those of the control group A. The quails of group C and D had mild depression while those of the group E and F showed nervous excitation following ingestion of endosulfan. There was a dose related delay in onset of crowing, appearance of foamy material in the droppings. The feed intake, erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, hematocrit values, and serum total proteins of endosulfan fed quails were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of the group A. The total egg production in groups A, B and C was significantly higher from group D, E and F.  The hatchability in group A and B was significantly higher from groups C, D, E and F. The difference of dead in shell % and early dead among different groups was nonsignificant. Infertile egg percentage was significantly higher in group E compared with all other groups except group F. The necrotic changes were observed in all parts of oviduct in high dose groups, similarly necrotic changes and vacuolar degeneration was observed in hepatic parenchyma in high dose groups D-F.Conclusion: It may be concluded that endosulfan leads to dose dependent changes in the quails.Keywords: Body weight; Coturnix japonica; Endosulfan; Haematological values; Histopatholog