Asrani, R.K.Karol, Ankit2019-02-022019-02-022015-08-14http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810093383The present study was planned to study the effect of aqueous plant extract against experimental salmonellosis in Japanese quail. Four hundred Japanese quail chicks at day 21 were randomly divided into four groups and were fed chick mash alone (group PC), aqueous plant extract in the drinking water at the rate of 15 ml lts-1of drinking water (group GC), birds challenged with S. Gallinarum (2x103 cfu ml-1) orally (group PI) and the combination group containing both infection and aqueous extract (group GI). The plant extract was given in drinking water continuously from 18th day onwards up to 10 days post-infection. The S. Gallinarum infection was inoculated at day 21 through oral route. The birds in all groups were closely observed for the development of clinical signs, mortality, growth response, biochemical changes and pathological changes. Intestinal tissues of three randomly selected birds from each treatment group were subjected to scanning electron microscopic studies at different hours post infection. The clinical signs in both the infected groups included greenish diarrhea, anorexia, ruffling of feathers, labored breathing, huddling, restricted movement, dullness and depression, but the signs like dark greenish diarrhea, ruffled feathers etc. were comparatively less severe in the GI group. Mortality was 36% in the infected group kept on the plants extract added water in comparison to 58% in the group given Salmonella infection alone. ALT, AST, serum cholesterol and creatinine levels were found to be higher whereas total protein concentration was lower at the peak phase of infection in PI group as compared to the GI group. The gross lesions in liver and spleen chiefly comprised of enlargement, copper discoloration and necrotic foci in both the infected groups, though lesions in GI group were comparatively less severe up to 10 DPI, but increased afterwards when the extract water was stopped giving to the birds. The microscopic lesions in the PI group comprised of necrosis, heterophilic and mononuclear cell infiltration and vacuolar changes in the liver. The lesions were similar in nature in the GI group but were comparatively less severe in intensity. The lesions in the spleen in both the infected groups included RE cell hyperplasia, lymphoid depletion, necrosis and heterophilic and MN cell infiltration. In PI group, the scanning electron studies revealed significant damage to the intestine architecture. The birds showed destructed villous structure and necrosis. The normal shape was transformed to long finger like structures with tapering ends. There was sloughing of the villous epithelium and shedding of the mucosal shreds. The response in the GI group was found to be better than PI group. These results indicate that there was some level of protection provided by the aqueous plant extract against experimental salmonellosis.ennullThesis