Volume 53 (2003) Issue: 2003 No#1

PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS AND DEGREE OF REPARATORY PROCESSES IN THE LIVER OF BROILERS TREATED WITH T-2 TOXIN

Author(s): Šefer D, Knežević Milijana, Sinovec Snežana, Sinovec Z

Keywords:poultry T-2 toxin, pathomorphological alterations, reparatory processes

The 42-day long trial was performed on a total of 48 Hybro broilers divided into four groups. After a 14 day pre-experimental period, the experimental groups were treated daily with T-2 toxin at 0.02 mg/kg BW for 7, 14 or 21 days respectively and a mixture of ethanol and physiological saline was administered to the control group of birds. Liver samples were taken after the period of toxin administration and the remaining birds from the control and experimental groups were normally fed and watered without toxin application until the end of the trial when liver samples were taken again. Histogenetic development of dystrophic and dyscyclic changes were found in the livers of the treated broilers. Morphological alterations of the liver were diverse in character, intensity and spread depending on the duration of exposure of broilers to the adverse effects of T-2 toxin, as well as the total quantity of toxin applied. The degree of the reparation varied depending on the duration of exposure to toxin, as well as the resting period. Evident reversible processes were found after short term exposure followed by a long resting period, while regeneration processes were not pronounced after chronic poisoning followed by a short resting period.