Exploration of the Protective Effect of Plant Preparations on the Adverse Effects of Certain Antibacterials in Broilers
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Date
2011
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Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Abstract
Antibiotics are highly used in poultry industry to treat infections and
also for growth promotion. Indiscriminate use of antibiotic especially
gentamicin and enrofloxacin are commonly used in poultry may lead to
nephrotoxicity and chondrotoxicity respectively. The trend of using natural
resources is on the increase not only for treatment of ailments but also to
counteract the adverse effects of drugs and toxicants.
Hence, this study was envisaged to explore the possible protective
effects of Ocimum sanctum and Withania somnifera on the adverse effects of
gentamicin and enrofloxacin respectively.
In the present study two trials were conducted with two hundred and
seventy straight run broiler chicks of Vencob strain for each trial. The birds
were reared from day one with ad libitum feed and water. In each trial there
were three replicates. Each replicate had nine treatments consisting of ten
birds per treatment.
In the first trial, group T1 was normal control with regular feed. Groups
T2 and T3 were gentamicin controls and receiving normal feed. Groups T4
and T5 were Ocimum sanctum control receiving plant extracts mixed with
feed. Groups T6 to T9 were treatment groups receiving both the drug and
plant extract. Gentamicin was administered as single intramuscular injection
on 15th day at 30mg/kg to groups T2, T6 and T8 and 50mg/kg to groups T3,
T7 and T9. Inclusion of Ocimum sanctum was at 1% level in feed to groups
T4, T6 and T7 and that 2% level to groups T5, T8 and T9. Similar groupings
were followed in second trial with enrofloxacin at 30mg/kg and 40mg/kg, and
Withania somnifera at 1% and 2% inclusion levels of feed. Enrofloxacin was
administered through drinking water from 15th day to 21st day. All the groups
were vaccinated against Newcastle viral disease on day 7 and day 21, using
LaSota strain as intra ocular drops.
Body weight and feed consumption were recorded at weekly interval.
Blood was collected at the end of second, fourth and sixth weeks for
biochemical and immunological analysis. At the end of fourth week and sixth
week the birds were slaughtered and gross pathology of organs was
observed. Liver, kidney and bone samples were collected for histopathological
analysis.
The body weight of gentamicin control was significantly decreased at
the end of third and fourth week and reversed back to normal from fifth week.
Supplementation of Ocimum sanctum significantly protected the gentamicin
induced weight loss in a dose dependent manner. Feed intake was normal in
all the groups throughout the study period.
Serum total protein, albumin and globulin level were significantly
reduced in gentamicin control at the end of fourth week. Treatment with
Ocimum sanctum showed dose dependent significant increase in serum
proteins. Serum ALT, AST levels were significantly increased in gentamicin
control which was also reversed by Ocimum sanctum. Gentamicin induced
decrease in serum sodium and potassium were normalized by Ocimum
sanctum treatment. Serum lipid peroxidation was significantly increased,
glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase level in kidney were
significantly decreased by gentamicin. The antioxidant enzyme levels were
reversed to normal by inclusion of Ocimum sanctum. Increased serum uric
acid and creatinine level in gentamicin control was significantly reduced by
Ocimum sanctum treatment. HI titre was normal in all the groups.
Gross pathology of kidney from gentamicin control showed mild to
moderate congestion with multifocal haemorrhages in a dose dependent
manner. The kidney of Ocimum sanctum treatment was comparable to that of
control. Histopathological changes like necrosis of tubular epithelium,
detachment of epithelial cells produced by gentamicin were brought to normal
by Ocimum sanctum.
In the second trial, body weight of enrofloxacin control group showed
significant decrease at the end of third, fourth and fifth week. Withania
somnifera treated groups showed dose dependant reversal of body weight to
that of normal control.
The serum total protein, albumin and globulin levels showed significant
reduction in enrofloxacin control group that was reversed to normal by the
addition of Withania somnifera in dose dependent manner at the end of the
fourth week itself. Serum aspartate aminotransferase level showed increased
trend in enrofloxacin control group, which was normalized by supplementation
of Withania somnifera.
Lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase
levels were within normal throughout study period in all the groups. Serum
potassium level was brought back to normal in plant treated groups at the end
of fourth week and serum sodium level was not much altered.
Serum calcium level was significantly reduced in enrofloxacin treated
group and Withania somnifera treated groups provided dose dependant
protection. HI titre against Newcastle disease virus was increased in Withania
somnifera control group and low dose of enrofloxacin group compared to
other groups.
Histopathology of Withania somnifera treated groups showed
significant protection from chondrocyte damage induced by enrofloxacin, and
showed the regenerating capacity of chondrocytes and reduced the articular
surface erosion.
It is concluded that co-administration of Ocimum sanctum and Withania
somnifera along with gentamicin and enrofloxacin reduces the intensity of
adverse effects of the antibacterials.