title: Experimental pathology of T-2 toxicosis and mycoplasma infection on performance and hepatic functions of broiler chickens.
abstract: This experiment was conducted using 192 day-old Ross 308 chicks, divided into 4 groups of 4 replicate consisting 48 birds. Group I was fed a control diet, Group II was fed control diet supplemented with 0.5 ppm T-2 toxin for 5 weeks, Group III was fed control diet supplemented with 8 × 10(8) cfu/mL of Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and group IV was fed control diet supplemented by T-2 toxin and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Body weight and feed conversation ratio (FCR), relative organ weights, clinical signs, biochemical characteristics, and gross and histopathological lesions were recorded in the experimental groups at the end of the second and fifth weeks of age. Body weight and relative weights of bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen decreased and FCR increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05), but the relative weights of liver and kidney showed no significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the serum total proteins, albumin, and increase in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase were observed in T-2 toxin and T-2 accompanied with Mycoplasma fed birds when compared to the control group. Liver was enlarged, friable, and yellowish discoloration with distended gall bladder was noticed. Lymphoid organs such as bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen were atrophied in group II and group IV throughout the study. Microscopically, liver showed vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes, with increased Kupffer cell activity, bile duct epithelial hyperplasia, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Kidney showed vacuolar degeneration of tubular epithelium along with pyknotic nuclei. Lymphoid organs showed lymphocytolysis and depletion with prominent reticuloepithelial cells. Proventriculus revealed desquamation of villous epithelial cells and lymphoid infiltration in submucosa. Heart showed mild hemorrhage with infiltration of inflammatory cells. Lung showed edema and inflammatory cells in the bronchioles. Trachea showed desquamation and erosions of mucosa. Proliferation of mucosal glands with increased mucous secretion was obvious. Air sacs showed thickening with presence of inflammatory cells and edema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran manafim@malayeru.ac.ir.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Shahrekord, Shahrekord, Iran.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pirany
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, Herat University, Heart, Afghanistan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noor Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedayati
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khalaji
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens; D060085:Coinfection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000662:veterinary; D004063:Digestion; D005260:Female; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D045686:Mycoplasma gallisepticum / Q000502:physiology; D009929:Organ Size; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013605:T-2 Toxin / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D013605:T-2 Toxin
keywords: Mycoplasma gallisepticum; T-2 toxin; broiler; pathological lesion; performance