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Abstract
Heavy metals contamination is a serious environmental pollution because the continuous exposure to even a low level of heavy metals possess a dangerous effect for both human and chicken. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant against the oxidative stress caused by toxic substances (such as cadmium and lead). Lead and cadmium are cumulative poisons that even small concentrations of them can produce toxicity signs after a long duration.
The present work was conducted to determine the changes in body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters and also, histopathological changes due to administration of various levels of cadmium and lead. The effect of vitamin C in overcoming these problems was also studied.
Seventy hupper chicks, from one day old till 6 weeks old, were distributed into 5 main groups and 2 subgroups, each group has 10 chicks.
1)Control group: this group received filtered water free from cadmium and lead.
2)Lead treated group: this group received water containing 20 ppm lead acetate.
3)Lead plus vitamin C treated group: this group received water containing 20 ppm lead acetate plus vitamin C 100 gm / 100 kg diet.
4)Cadmium treated group: this group was divided into 2 subgroups:-
a- Group received water containing 5 ppm cadmium chloride.
b- Group received water containing 0.08 ppm cadmium chloride.
5) Cadmium plus vitamin C treated group: this group received 5 ppm cadmium and 0.08 ppm cadmium plus vitamin C 100 gm / 100 kg diet added to each group.
Blood samples were collected at 2nd, 4th and 6th week of age and organ samples (liver, kidneys, spleen and bursa) were taken at 6th week of age.
The obtained results from our study revealed that
1)Lead treated group showed:
•Significant reduction of body weight.
•The blood picture revealed macrocytic hypochromic anaemia with leukopeina, heteropenia and lymphopenia in addition to thrombocytopenia.
•Serum biochemical analysis revealed significant increase in ALT, AST, glucose, uric acid, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides and MDA and was associated with a significant decrease in total proteins and albumin.
•Histopathological findings revealed severe lymphoid depletion in bursa of Fabricious and spleen in addition to degeneration and necrosis of the hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelium.
•Lead plus vitamin C treated group showed no significant changes in body weight, hematological, biochemical parameters and histopathological findings when compared with control group.
2)Cadmium treated group showed:-
c-Significant reduction in body weight in both cadmium 5 ppm and 0.08 ppm treated groups.
d-Macrocytic hypochromic anaemia in both treated groups with leucopenia and thrombocytopenia.
e-Serum chemical analysis showed significant increase in AST, ALT, uric acid, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and MDA with a significant decrease in total proteins and albumin in cadmium 5ppm treated group. Meanwhile, at 0.08 ppm treated group, there was significant increase in cholesterol, triglycerides and MDA with a significant decrease in total proteins and albumin.
f-Microscopical examination revealed severe lymphoid depletion in bursa of Fabricious and spleen in addition to necrosis and lymphocytic infiltration of kidneys with hydropic degeneration of the hepatocytes in 5 ppm cadmium treated group. Meanwhile, in cadmium 0.08 ppm treated group slight lymphoid depletion was seen in some examined bursa. g-The cadmium plus vitamin C treated group showed no significant changes in body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters and on histopathological finding when compared with control group.
It is concluded that administration of lead and cadmium in broilers has adverse effect on body weight, hematological picture and liver and kidney functions.
Administration of vitamin C with lead and cadmium decrease the damaging effect of lead and cadmium due to its antioxidant effect.