Effects of dietary supplementation of lead (Pb) on biochemical, gross and histo-morphological changes in different organs of broiler chicken

Abstract

Background: Nowadays poultry industry, an important sector is becoming a serious threat to public health due to the heavy metal exposure & accumulation in poultry tissues. Therefore, our recent study was aimed to investigate the toxic effects of lead (Pb) exposure in broiler chicken.

Methods: A total number of 72 broiler chicks (Cobb-500, 12th day old) were assigned to four dietary treatments with three replicates. Control group received only basal diet without any supplementation. The other groups T1, T2 and T3 received feed with supplemented Pb @ 10, 30 and 50mg/kg feed, respectively. The body weight of each bird was weighed at 3 days interval.

Results: Lead caused elevation of SGPT/ALT (P<0.01) and decreased serum creatinine attributed to pathological lesions including enlarged, pale & friable liver, swollen kidneys and splenomegaly in experimental groups. On histopathological examination, liver shows cirrhosis and necrosis in all treated groups. In the kidney, glomerulus was filled with reactive cells in group T1 while fibrosis and necrosis were found in groups T2 & T3.

Conclusions: Lead toxicity in broiler had a dose-dependent effect on body weight gain, blood parameters, gross and histological changes.