title: Immunosuppression due to chronic ochratoxicosis in broiler chicks.
abstract: Crystalline ochratoxin A (OA) was added to the feed of broiler chicks at 0.5 ppm and 2.0 ppm, and humoral and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) were studied. CMI was assessed by skin sensitivity testing, graft versus host (GVH) reaction and T lymphocyte count. Humoral immunity was examined by measuring the haemagglutinin (HA) response to sheep RBC (SRBC). In addition, total lymphocyte counts, total serum protein, albumin and globulin were determined and the phagocytic activity of splenic macrophages was measured in the nitroblue tetrazolium test (NBT). The weights of lymphoid organs were also recorded at post-mortem examination of the birds. Highly significant reductions in CMI were indicated by diminished skin sensitivity, GVH reactions and T lymphocyte counts. On the other hand, only the overall HA titres differed significantly between the various treatment groups. Total lymphocyte counts, total serum protein, serum albumin and serum globulin were significantly depressed on the 21st day of intoxication. The number of NBT-positive cells was drastically reduced in both the intoxicated groups compared with controls (P less than 0.05) and the weights of thymus, bursa of Fabricius and spleen of intoxicated birds were significantly reduced. The study illustrated the immunosuppressive effects of ochratoxicosis in broiler chicks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Ranchi Veterinary College (B.A.U.), India.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000494:pharmacology; D005916:Globulins / Q000032:analysis; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013154:Spleen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D005916:Globulins; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D009793:Ochratoxins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene