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Anand Agricultural University, Anand

Anand Agricultural University (AAU) was established in 2004 at Anand with the support of the Government of Gujarat, Act No.(Guj 5 of 2004) dated April 29, 2004. Caved out of the erstwhile Gujarat Agricultural University (GAU), the dream institution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. K. M. Munshi, the AAU was set up to provide support to the farming community in three facets namely education, research and extension activities in Agriculture, Horticulture Engineering, product Processing and Home Science. At present there seven Colleges, seventeen Research Centers and six Extension Education Institute working in nine districts of Gujarat namely Ahmedabad, Anand, Dahod, Kheda, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Mahisagar, Botad and Chhotaudepur AAU's activities have expanded to span newer commodity sectors such as soil health card, bio-diesel, medicinal plants apart from the mandatory ones like rice, maize, tobacco, vegetable crops, fruit crops, forage crops, animal breeding, nutrition and dairy products etc. the core of AAU's operating philosophy however, continues to create the partnership between the rural people and committed academic as the basic for sustainable rural development. In pursuing its various programmes AAU's overall mission is to promote sustainable growth and economic independence in rural society. AAU aims to do this through education, research and extension education. Thus, AAU works towards the empowerment of the farmers.

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2012 - 201424
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Subject: Veterinary Pathology × End date: 2014 × Start date: 2012 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PATHO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY ON GENOTYPE-XIII NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS INFECTION IN COMMERCIAL CHICKEN
    (AAU, Anand, 2014) KHORAJIYA, JAYNUDIN H.; JOSHI, B. P.
    The present research work was carried out to know Patho-epidemiological study on Genotype-XIII Newcastle disease virus infection in commercial layer and broiler chicks in around Anand, Gujarat. The Genotype-XIII Newcastle disease virus was confirmed by F gene sequence and whole genome sequence at Department of Microbiology and Animal biotechnology, Veterinary College, Anand. The study comprised of patho epidemiology of Newcastle disease by information collected from different broiler and layer farms suffered from the disease in relation to incidence pattern and mortality, duration of mortality, susceptible age, loss due to production performance, clinical signs, gross and histopathological lesions of visceral organs as well as to isolate and identify pathotype of virus by HA, HI and ICPI test. During the study mortality due to Newcastle disease was recorded in 13 layer and 10 broiler flocks inspite of routine vaccination which usually contain genotype-II strain of virus. The mortality was observed above 50 percent with an average of 21.21 percent in layer flocks and to the tune of 80 percent with an average of 28.11 percent in broiler flocks. The susceptible age of the disease was found to be 23 to 34 days among broiler and 6-14 weeks among layer flocks. The duration of mortality observed was 14 days in broiler flocks and 23 days among layer flocks. The disease resulted in significant reduction in body weight upto 22.80% in layer flocks and 29.06 % in broiler flocks in comparison to standard normal body weight. There was significant reduction in feed intake upto 35.52% in broiler flocks and 46.91 percent in layer flocks. The two affected egg laying flocks showed drop in egg production to the tune of 20 to 30 percent. Majority of the outbreaks appeared during extreme hot months of may and June in broiler flocks and april to June in layer flocks. The major clinical signs presented by the affected flocks were listlessness, increased respiration, greenish diarrhoea with soiled feathers of vent, dehydration, loss in body weight, conjunctivitis, prostration and increasing mortality. Greenish diarrhea was frequently seen in birds that survived early in infection. Mortality continued for 2-3 weeks and reduced with appearance of torticollis. Gross lesions were characterized by emaciation and dehydration of carcass with deep congestion of breast musculature, multifocal to diffuse haemorrhages around proventricular glands, necrotic (diptheretic) haemorrhagic ulcers throughout the intestine, disseminated multiple foci of necrosis and pin-point haemorrhages in spleen parenchyma especially in layer birds. In few of the broiler flocks kidneys appeared pale and enlarged with pin point haemorrhages. Severe congestion of trachea and lungs was prominent feature in majority of broiler as well as layer chicks. The microscopic lesions were mainly of the nature of focal to diffuse haemorrhages and diffuse infiltration of mononuclear cells in proventricular mucosal and glandular regions; focal to diffuse haemorrhages, necrosis and sloughing of epithelial cells and moderate to severe infiltration of mononuclear cells in the intestine; multifocal areas of lymphoid necrosis and haemorrhages in caecal tonsils, spleen and bursa of fabricius; and perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes, neuronal degeneration and focal areas of gliosis in brain parenchyma. Pooled tissue samples (trachea, lung, liver, spleen, proventriculus, caecal tonsils and intestine) collected aseptically during postmortem examination from all the 23 flocks of broiler and layer farms were homogenized and tissue suspensions were inoculated into the allantoic cavity of embryonated SPF eggs of 9-11 days incubation. Eggs were further incubated until death or for upto 72 hrs and allantoic fluid was collected after overnight chilling at 4°C and used for further HA, HI test and ICPI test. All the 23 allantoic fluids from field samples along with F and R2B vaccine sample were found positive for HA activity, which was further confirmed by HI using known NDV serum. The values of intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) carried out for assessment of virulence of Newcastle disease virus in day old SPF chicks for the filed samples were 2.0 and indicative of velogenic nature of the filed NDV strain. The clinical signs, mortality pattern, gross and microscopic lesions, haemagglutination (HA), haemagglutination inhibition (HI) activity and ICPI (Intracerebral Pathogenicity Index) observed in filed outbreaks of Newcastle disease both in layer and broiler flocks were indicative of very virulent Newcastle disease. Further isolation of genotype-XIII NDV from the filed outbreaks and ICPI score of 2.0 confirmed that the present outbreaks were due to genotype-XIII Newcastle disease virus which was velogenic in nature. The study indicated that presently available live and attenuated vaccines which include genotype-II NDV have failed in protecting the flocks against genotype-XIII and resulted in outbreaks with mortality above 50 percent in layer flocks and upto 80 percent in broiler flocks.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    TOXICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF MELOXICAM, IBUPROFEN AND DICLOFENAC SODIUM IN BROILER CHICKS
    (AAU, Anand, 2014) GHODASARA, PRIYA D.; Prajapati, K. S.
    The present research work was conducted on eight groups of day old Cobb-400 broiler chicks to study the toxicopathological effects of meloxicam, ibuprofen and diclofenac sodium in feed. Group I was kept as control. Group II was administered with diclofenac at dose of 15 ppm through feed. Groups III, IV and V were fed with diet containing meloxicam @ 4, 20 and 100 ppm respectively for 21 days. Groups VI, VII and VIII were fed with diet containing ibuprofen @ 80 ppm, 400 ppm and 2000 ppm respectively for 21 days. The chicks were observed for any abnormal behavioral signs and mortality during the experiment. After completion of 21 days treatment, blood samples were collected for serum biochemical analysis from right jugular vein. The survived birds were sacrificed by means of cervical dislocation at the end of experiment. A detailed post mortem examination was performed on chicks which died during the experiment as well as sacrificed at the end of the experiment and gross lesions were recorded. Tissue samples (liver, kidney, heart, spleen and lung) were collected in 10% formalin for histopathological examination. Clinical signs viz. dullness, depression, anorexia, lameness, unthriftiness with ruffled feather, drooping of the wings and lethargy with shrunken eyes were noticed in birds of diclofenac treated group II. During the study the mortality was observed in diclofenac treated group II and it was 25%. Meloxicam and ibuprofen treated birds did not reveal any mortality. Reduction in body weight gain and feed intake and increase in Kidney : Bodyweight ratio were observed in diclofenac treated group II as compare to control group. Meloxicam and ibuprofen treated groups did not reveal any significant change in body weight gain, feed intake and Kidney : Body weight ratio as compare to control group. The average FCR was higher in diclofenac treated group II (3.82) as compared to control group (2.19). Meloxicam and ibuprofen treated groups did not reveal any changes in this parameter as compared to control. There was highly significant rise (p < 0.01) in mean values of uric acid and BUN whereas significant increase in creatinine, AST and ALT in diclofenac treated group II. Ibuprofen treated group- VIII with high dose revealed significant increase in AST and ALT. Meloxicam treated groups did not reveal any changes in these biochemical parameters as compare to control. Pathological lesions (both gross and microscopic) were mainly observed in chicks that died during the experiment from diclofenac treated group II. The chicks which were sacrificed at the end of experiment did not reveal any specific gross and microscopic lesions in any of the treatment group. Grossly, on surface of visceral organs white chalky urate deposits of varying degree were observed in chicks which died during experiment from treatment group II. Histopathologically, the lesions were characterized by congestion, degeneration, haemorrhage and deposition of uric acid crystals. Kidney was the main target organ affected. The overall lesions gave an impression that diclofenac was nephrotoxic as well as hepatotoxic in nature. Ibuprofen treated group VIII with high dose showed slightly enlarged and pale liver in few birds while meloxicam treated groups did not reveal any pathomorphological changes.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    TOXICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF CARPROFEN IN BROILER CHICKS
    (AAU, Anand, 2013) DABHI, PRASHANT BHAGWANDAS; Ghodasara, D. J.
    The present research work was conducted on 100 day old cobb broiler chicks to study the toxicopathological effects of repeated dose (21 days) of carprofen. Broiler chicks were randomly divided into 4 different groups each containing 25 chicks. Chicks of group II to IV were given 25, 50 and 100 ppm carprofen through feed for 21 days whereas, group I was kept as control. Clinical signs, mortality, feed intake, weight gain, FGR, serum biochemical and pathomorphological studies were done. After completion of 21 days treatment, blood samples were collected for serum biochemical analysis from right jugular vein. At the end of experiment, birds were sacrificed by means of cervical dislocation. A detailed necropsy examination was performed and gross lesions were recorded. Tissue samples (liver, kidney, lung, heart, spleen and intestine) were collected in 10% neutral buffer formalin and in absolute alcohol for histopathological examination. During the experiment, extent and severity of observed symptoms varied according to the dose administered to the chicks. Dullness, lethargy, lameness, anorexia, feather plucking and uneven growth like symptoms were noticed in chicks of treatment group IV. Maximum mortality was observed in group IV (12%) followed by group III (4%) and no mortality was recorded in group II. A dose dependant reduction in body weight was observed in all the treatment groups. The mean values of Kidney: Body weight ratio was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in group III whereas, highly significant (p < 0.01) increased in group IV. There was a marginal reduction in feed ponsumption in group IV followed by group III and II. Highest FCR of 1.38 was observed in group IV followed by 1.34 in group III, 1.32 in group II and lowest 1.31 was recorded in group I at the end of experiment. The serum uric acid, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) values were significantly increased in treatment group IV. Dose dependant pathological changes in different organs exposed to carprofen at three different dose levels were observed in broiler chicks. Grossly, white chalky urate deposits of varying degree on surface of visceral organs were observed in chicks which died during experiment from treatment group IV. Histopathologically, the lesions were characterized by congestion, degeneration, necrosis, haemorrhage and deposition of uric acid crystals. Kidney was the main target organ affected. The overall lesions gave an impression that carprofen was nephrotoxic as well as hepatotoxic in nature.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PATHO-MORPHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF EARLY AND LATE CONSEQUENCES OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN SD MALE RATS
    (AAU, Anand, 2012) PANDEY, AMITA; Prajapati, K. S.
    The present study was conducted to investigate the early and late consequences of acute kidney injury after the episode of 35 minutes of bilateral renal ischemia. The progressive changes in serum, urine and kidney structure were studied at day 1 to day 28 of reperfusion period. Serum and urine samples were analyzed for creatinine, urea, protein and electrolytes (sodium & potassium). 24 hr urinary output and its solutes were measured at each reperfiasion period. Paraffin section of kidneys stained with H&E, PAS and Masson's trichrome stains were microscopically evaluated for pathological and morphological analysis. Kidney was also assessed for special markers of endothelium (CD31) and immature renal tubules (vimentin) by Immunohistochemistry and image analysis. All experimental rats survived till the end of experimental period. Day 1 after the reperfiision period, serum creatinine and BUN rose to 5-8 folds of sham control or their baseline value. Anuria/oligouria with completely abolished glomerular filtration rate (creatinine clearance <2%), decreased urinary solutes (< 600 against the 1367 mOsm/KgH20) and increased excretion rate of sodium (FeNa >1), potassium (FeK >40) were striking features of day 1 after ischemic AKI. Similar scenario was also present on day 2 of reperfusion period while showing the recovery trend. Urine volume was exceptionally high (~3 folds) than the sham control on day 2 of reperfusion period. By day 7 of VR most of the functional parameters became comparable to the sham control except urine volume which remained ~2 fold higher than the sham till the end of day 28 of experimental period. Histopathologically, ischemic insult caused the severe necrosis of renal tubules at outer stripe of medulla within 24 hr of injury. By day 4 of reperfusion these cells were replaced by basophilic regenerating cell as hyperplastic islets of cells. Further these cells were differentiated in the fonn of renal tubules. At the end of 28 days of experimental period most of tubules restored their normal fiinction but 2-3 foci of tubulointerstitial lesions were present. These foci had dilated renal tubules surrounded by Masson's trichrome positive fibrous tissue. Tubular luminal index was increased by day 4 onwards, highest at day 7 (15399 vs 1679 µm2). Increased interstitial index recorded day 7 of reperfusion period onwards, and 47% area of interstitium noticed in tubulointerstitium foci at day 28. Increased vimentin index was present on day 4 (85.95%), day 7 (52.09%), day 14 (43.55%) and day 28 (36.18%). However, no remarkable change noticed on capillary density in Our experimental condition. Results of this study indicate that 35 minutes bilateral renal ischemia caused the moderate to severe acute kidney injury and pronounced early functional and structural changes to the kidney. Though the functional abnormalities got restored within a week time, the morphological recovery was not complete. Existence of tubulointerstitial fibrosis and undifferentiated tubules noticed even after the 28 days of reperfusion period, which may initiate the down streaming events causing chronic alteration in renal structure and function at a later stage.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    TOXICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF KETOPROFEN IN LAYER CHICKS
    (AAU, Anand, 2012) GHANVAT, DIPAK PANDURANG; Ghodasara, D. J.
    The present research work was conducted on 100 day old BV-300 layer chicks to study the toxicopathological effects of repeated dose (21 days) of ketoprofen. Layer chicks were randomly divided into 4 different groups each containing 25 chicks. Chicks of group II to IV were given 5, 15 and 25 mg/kg b. wt. ketoprofen by oral gavage for 21 days whereas, group I was kept as control. After completion of 21 days treatment, blood samples were collected for plasma biochemical analysis from right jugular vein. At the end of experiment birds were sacrificed by means of cervical dislocation. A detailed necropsy examination was performed and gross lesions were recorded. Tissue samples (kidney, liver, lung, heart, spleen and intestine) were collected in 10% formalin solution for histopathological examination. In the experiment, extent and severity of observed symptoms varied according to the dose administered to the chicks. Dullness, lethargy, lameness, anorexia, feather plucking and uneven growth like symptoms were noticed in chicks of treatment groups III and IV only. Maximum mortality was observed in group IV (20%) followed by group III (4%). A dose dependant reduction in body weight was found in all the treatment groups. The mean values of Kidney: Body weight ratio were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in group III whereas, highly significant (p < 0.01) increased in group IV. There was a marginal reduction in feed consumption in group IV followed by group III and II. Highest FCR of 1.90 was observed in group IV followed by 1.86 in group III, 1.84 in group II and lowest 1.83 was recorded in group I at the end of experiment. The plasma uric acid, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) values were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in treatment group III whereas highly significantly (p < 0.01) increased in group IV. The plasma Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in treatment group IV. Dose dependant pathological changes in different organs exposed to ketoprofen at three different dose levels were revealed in layer chicks. Grossly, white chalky urate deposits of varying degree in the kidney were observed in chicks which died during experiment from treatment group III and IV. Histopathologically, the lesions were characterized by congestion, degeneration, necrosis, haemorrhage and deposition of uric acid crystals. Kidney was the main target organ affected. The overall lesions gave an impression that ketoprofen was nephrotoxic in nature. -The distribution and intensity of pathological lesions were more severe in chicks of group IV, followed by chicks of group III.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    ETIOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON SPIROCHETOSIS IN COMMERCIAL LAYER BIRDS
    (AAU, Anand, 2012) DELVADIA, ALPESH P.; JOSHI, B. P.
    The present study was carried to know the etio-pathology of spirochetosis from natural outbreaks occurred in five different flocks belonged to three different commercial layer farms in Anand district during the period of February to July 2011. Epidemiological information like flock strength, system of management, age of birds and mortality were recorded. Blood samples were collected from clinically ailing birds for haematological studies. The blood/impression smears prepared were stained with both field stain containing eosin and methylene blue as well as giemsa stain. A detailed necropsy examination was performed on dead birds from the affected flocks and gross lesions were recorded. Tissue samples like liver, spleen, heart, kidney, lung, intestine, proventriculus and ovaries were collected in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution for histopathological examination. The natural outbreaks of spirochetosis occurred in layer flocks reared in cage system of management and in between the age group ranging between 14 to 74 weeks. Majority of the outbreaks were recorded in laying flocks. Only one outbreak was recorded in a growing flock. Mortality between the flocks varied from 3.98 to 16.51 percent. The overall mortality was 10.87 percent. The mortality was observed over a period of 2 to 6 weeks. The clinical symptoms observed in affected flocks were pale and anemic skin and visible mucus membrane, loss of appetite, cyanosis of comb and wattles, sickness, ruffled feathers, fever, weakness, droopy huddled-up appearance and greenish diarrhoea. The larval and adult stage tick especially Arguspersicus was found in clinically ailing birds in all the five affected flocks. The haematological data like Hb, PCV, TEC, MCV, MCH and MCHC were found significantly decreased in affected flocks and morphological type of anaemia based on erythrocytic indices was normocytic normochromic anaemia. The hematological findings relating to leucocyte count (TLC, DLC and absolute leucocyte count) were suggestive of leukocytosis with heterophilia and monocytosis. The spirochete organisms could be detected in abundant numbers in buffy coat smears rather than in blood smears from the same affected bird. The organisms were observed with difficulty and seen in very less numbers in blood smears. The organisms could be detected either in less or abundant numbers fi-om the heart blood smears prepared from plasma clot rather than red blood clot from the same bird while organisms could not be detected in impression smears made from liver or spleen showing typical gross lesions of spirochetosis. The characteristic gross pathological lesions were appeared in the liver and spleen. The gross lesions appeared in the liver were enlargement, paleness, focal to diffuse coagulative necrosis and mild petechial haemorrhages on the surface. There was characteristic enlargement and mottled of spleen with diffuse grayish areas of necrosis. Kidneys were pale and swollen in majority of the affected birds. Some of the birds from affected flocks I and III showed gross lesions of mild to moderate fibrinous pericarditis. The characteristic histopathological lesions in liver were mild to severe congestion, focal to diffuse areas of haemorrhages and multifocal areas coagulative necrosis along with infiltrations of mononuclear leucocytes mainly lymphocytes and macrophages and presence of spirochete organisms in the blood vessels in majority of the cases. The lesions in the spleen were characterized by multifocal areas of lymphoid necrosis along with hyperplasia of macrophages and teeming number of spirochete organisms in the blood vessels of splenic parenchyma. Kidney revealed mild to moderate infiltration of mononuclear cells mainly lymphocytes in the intertubular space along with tubular degeneration in some of the birds belong to flocks I and IV. Some of the birds from affected flocks I and III showed fibrinous pericarditis i.e. infiltration of mononuclear cells along with fibrin deposition.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    SUBACUTE TOXICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF MELAMINE IN WISTAR RATS
    (AAU, Anand, 2012) PRAJAPATI, NIRAVKUMAR K.; Prajapati, K. S.
    The present research work was conducted on 24 male and 24 female Wistar rats to study the toxicopathological effects of repeated dose (28 days) of melamine. Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 different groups with six males and six females in each group. Animals of group II to IV were given 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg b. wt melamine by gavage for 28 days where as group I was administrated only com oil as (vehicle) control. Clinical signs, mortality, feed intake, body weight, hematology, serum biochemical and pathomorphological studies were done. The extent and severity of observed symptoms varied according to the dosage administered to animals. Symptoms like dullness, depression, lethargy with shrunken eyes, rough hair coat, diarrhoeic faeces, polyuria, polydypsia, hematuria and crystalluria with "fan shaped" MEL crystals were noticed in rats of treatment groups. Mortality was observed only in group IV (58.33%) and group III (33.33%) with 54.55%) male and 45.45%) female. The dose dependent reduction in body weight and feed consumption was observed in animals of group II, III and IV. The significant decrease in RBCs count. PCV, haemoglobin and MCV was recorded with increase in the dose of melamine in group IV. Moreover, significant decrease in MCH count was noticed in male and highly significant decrease in female from group IV animals whereas significant increase in total leucocytes count was noticed in group III and highly significant increase in group IV animals. The differential leucocytes count revealed significant increase in neutrophil count in Group III and highly significant increase in Group IV animals whereas significant decrease in lymphocytes count in animals of melamine treated group IV. No significant change in monocyte, eosinophil and basophil counts were observed in any treatment groups. AST, creatinine, BUN and uric acid values were significantly increased in treatment group III whereas highly significantly increased in group IV. Moreover, ALT was increased significantly in group III and IV male animals. Whereas increased significantly and highly significantly in female animals of group III and IV respectively. The significant decrease in total protein and albumin was observed in treatment group III and highly significant decrease in group IV animals. All the rats exposed to three different dose levels of melamine revealed dose dependant pathological changes in groups III and IV only with lesions in kidneys, urinary bladder, liver, spleen, lung and intestine. The main target organs affected were kidney, urinary bladder and liver. Grossly, kidneys were enlarged, pale, pitted and misshaped with dilated renal pelvises and variable whitish fine birefringent MEL crystals located in the cortex and medulla. Moreover, corticomedullary junction was obscured by a dark-red band of hemorrhages. Microscopically, kidneys revealed congestion, haemorrhage, degeneration, necrosis, cystic dilatation of tubules, glomerular atrophy and hypercellularity, tubular hyperplasia, hyaline casts and deposition of melamine crystals of variable size in the tubules. Furthermore, wet mounting of small slices of fresh kidney revealed golden brown crystals of MEL lined up in renal tubules forming spherulites. Grossly, urinary bladder revealed hemorrhage and distention with fine crystalline granular material in the lumen whereas microscopic examination revealed transitional epithelial hyperplasia. Microscopically, liver from group IV revealed numerous, small, round, greenish, fan shaped MEL crystals scattered in the dilated bile duct. Furthermore, liver showed vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes and mild fatty degeneration. The overall lesions gave impression that melamine was nephrotoxic as well as hepatotoxic in nature. The intensity and distribution of such lesions were more severe in rats of group IV, followed by rats of group III.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    TOXICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF MELAMINE IN BROILER CHICKS
    (AAU, Anand, 2012) GUPTA, HEMANT; Prajapati, K. S.
    The present research work was conducted on four groups of day old Cobb-400 broiler chicks to study the toxicopathological effects of melamine in feed. Groups II, III and IV were fed with diet containing melamine @ 1000 mg/kg, 2500 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg respectively for 21 days. Group I was kept as control. Clinical signs, mortality, feed intake, weight gain, FCR, serum biochemical and pathomorphological studies were done. Clinical signs viz. dullness, depression, anorexia, unthriftiness with ruffled feather, drooping of the wings and lethargy with shrunken eyes were noticed in birds of treatment groups III and IV only. Mortality was observed only in group FV (16%) and group III (4%) with 60% male and 40%) female. A dose dependent reduction in body weight was observed in the treatment groups III and IV only. There was no difference in feed intake and Kidney : Body weight ratio in birds between control and the treatment groups. Melamine in feed caused reduced feed efficiency which was dose dependent. The plasma uric acid, creatinine and BUN values were significantly increased in treatment group III whereas, highly significantly increased in group IV. The broiler chicks exposed to graded levels of dietary melamine revealed dose dependant pathological changes in groups III and IV only with lesions in kidneys, liver and gall bladder. Grossly, kidneys from dead birds showed enlargement with distended tubules filled with melamine-uric acid crystals. Microscopically, kidneys revealed congestion, haemorrhage, degeneration, necrosis, cystic dilatation of renal tubules, glomerular atrophy, proteinaceous casts and deposition of melamine-uric acid crystals of variable size. Gall bladder of birds from group IV that died during experiment was distended with opaque, turbid and murky bile with yellowish-white melamine crystals. Wet mounts of bile from birds of group IV showed "fan shaped" melamine crystals. It was concluded that melamine in the broiler feed @ 2500 mg/kg or more is nephrotoxic.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    STUDIES ON CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF COW URINE AND ITS SYNERGISTIC ACTION WITH AQUEOUS POLY HERBAL EXTRACT IN COMMERCIAL LAYER CHICKS
    (AAU, Anand, 2013) JIVANI, BHAVISHA M.; JOSHI, B. P.
    The present investigation was undertaken to study on clinico-pathological and immunomodulatory effects of cow urine distillate and its synergistic action with aqueous poly herbal extract containing Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) and Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) in commercial layer chicks. A total of 270, one day old BV-300 layer chicks were randomly divided into nine groups comprising 30 chicks in each group. Group I served as negative control without administration of any treatment except plain water at ad libitum. Groups II and III were served as positive treatment control groups and administered with IBD intermediate vaccine and cyclophosphamide as immunosuppressive agents respectively. The remaining treatment groups IV to IX were given either cow urine distillate alone or its combination with aqueous poly herbal extract along with intermediate IBD vaccine and cyclophosphamide. All the birds of different experimental groups were observed for different parameters. Six birds from each experimental group were sacrificed on day 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 for collection of material for haematological, biochemical, histopathological and lymphoblastogenesis study. Clinical signs like tendency to remain standing at one place with apathy, unthriftiness with ruffled feathers, dullness and drooping of the wings were observed in some of the birds belonged to group II (IBD vaccinated) and III (cyclophosphamide) after two to three days of administration of immunosuppressive agents. Except mild depression and dullness in occasional birds from treatment groups VI, VII, VIII & IX, no other clinical signs were observed in other treatment groups throughout the study period. There was significant (P<0.05) increase in body weight in groups IV and V as compared to group I as well as in groups VI and VII as compared to group II and in group VIII and group IX as compare to group III on 30th and 45th days of experiment. There was significant increase (P<0.05) in bursa body weight ratio and thymus body weight ratio in groups IV (cow urine distillate ) and V (cow urine distillate + aqueous poly herbal extract) on 15th and 30th days as compared to control group I. There was significant decrease (P<0.05) in bursa body weight ratio and thymus body weight ratio in groups II and III as compared to control group I on 30th day of experiment. There was significant increase (P<0.05) in both these ratios in groups VI and VII as compared to group II and in groups VIII and IX as compared to group III on 30th day of experiment. Different haematological parameters revealed significant decrease (P<0.05) in haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume and TEC count in group III on 15th and 30th days of experiment as compared to control group I. Among different treatment groups, only groups VIII and IX showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in Hb, PCV and TEC values in comparison to group I and significant increase as compared to group III on 15th day of experiment. There was significant decrease (P<0.05) in the TLC in groups III, VIII and IX as compared to group I whereas significant increase (P<0.05) in groups VIII and IX as compared to group III on 15th day of experiment. There was also significant decrease in heterophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts in group III on 15th and 30th days as well as in groups VIII and IX on 15th day as compared to group I where as the values of heterophil and lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in groups VIII and IX as compared to group III. All these findings indicated that cow urine and its combination with poly herbal extract have ability to counteract the effect of cyclophosphamide in layer chicks. Among different biochemical parameters studied, ALT and AST values revealed significant increase in group III as compared to group I while significant decrease was observed in groups VIII and IX as compared to group III on 15th and 30th days of experiment. There was significant increase in BUN and creatinine in group III on 15th and 30th days as well as in groups VII and IX on 15 day as compared to group I where as significant decrease in groups VIII and EX as compared to group III on 15 and 30th days of experiment. There was significant decrease (P<0.05) in NDHI antibody titre in group II (IBD vaccinated) on 30th, 45th and 60th days of experiment as well as in group III (cyclophosphamide) on 30th day of experiment as compared to control group I. There was significant increase (P<0.05) in antibody titre in groups IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX as compared to their respective control groups on 30th , 45th and 60th days of experiment. Mean values of skin thickness revealed significant increase in groups IV, V, VI, VII, VIII & IX as compared to group I, in groups VI and VII as compared to group II and in groups VIII and IX as compared to group III at 24 hrs after DNCB application. Lymphoblastogenesis assay revealed significant decrease (P<0.05) in T-cell blastogenesis in group III and B-cell blastogenesis in groups II and III as compared to group I on 30th and 45th days of experiment. There was significant (P<0.05) increase (P<0.05) in T-cell and B-cell blastogenesis in groups IV and V as compared to group I, in groups VI and VII as compared to group II and in groups VIII and IX as compared to group III on 30th , 45th and 60th days of experiment. These results suggested the potent humoral and cell mediated immune response of cow urine distillate and its combination with poly herbal extract. There was marked gross enlargement of bursa of Fabricius and thymic lobes in all the treatment groups IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and DC on 30th and 40th days of sacrifice when compared to their respective control groups. There were no appreciable gross lesions in other internal organs. Variable lesions like erythema, indurations, haemorrhage and necrosis were seen in groups IV to IX at 24 his post challenge of DNCB application. Microscopic lesions in bursa of Fabricius revealed enlarged bursal follicles with lymphoid hyperplasia in groups IV and V as compared to group I on 30th and 45th days of sacrifice. There was mild to moderate atrophy of lymphoid follicles in groups II and III while in comparison to both these groups, the bursal follicles of birds belonging to groups VI, VII, VIII and IX showed mild to moderate regeneration in the form of lymphoid cell proliferation on 30th and 45th days of sacrifice. Lesions in the thymus revealed slightly enlarged lymphoid follicles with lymphoid hypeiplasia in groups IV and V on 30 and 45th days of sacrifice. Thymic lesions in group III treated with cyclophosphamide mainly consisted mild to moderate atrophy with depletion of lymphocytes while moderate enlargement of thymic follicles with regenerative proliferation of lymphocytes was observed in groups VIII and IX as compared to group III on 30th and 45th days of experiment. Sections of spleen revealed mild depletion of lymphocytes in group III on 30th and 45th days of sacrifice while there was regenerative RE cell hyperplasia in groups VIII and IX on 30 day of experiment. Section of kidney showed lesions only in group III. The kidney lesions were characterized by mild congestion, widespread degeneration and necrosis of tubular epithelium. The severity of renal lesions was markedly reduced in groups VIII and IX as compared to group III on 30th day of sacrifice. The histopathological lesions in the skin after 24 lirs of DNCB application revealed lesions like varying degrees of mononuclear cell infiltrations accompanied with necrosis, edema and congestion in superficial and deep layers of dermis in various groups treated with cow urine alone or its combination with poly herbal extract. It could be concluded from the present findings that cow urine distillate alone or its mixture with poly herbal aqueous extract was found to modulate the immunity in a positive maimer and can be used as an inamunomodulatory agents in commercial layer chicks.