A PATHOLOGICAL STUDY ON GRADED LEVELS OF JATROPHA (Jatropha curcas) DEOILED SEED CAKE TOXICITY IN BROILER CHICKS

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) the medicinal plant of India has potential to solve the growing feed insecurity of world economically at cheaper rate. Jatropha seed cake is rich in crude protein, but proved to be toxic to poultry and livestock unless and until complete oil is not removed. But, the degree of toxicity varies at different concentrations. The present study was undertaken to study the pathological changes in broiler chicks fed with differently graded Jatropha deoiled seed cake. A total 120 day-old male broiler Vencobb strain chicks were divided into 5 groups consisting of 24 birds in each group. Group I was under control feed for the whole experimental period i.e., 6 weeks. Group II was fed with control fed (CF) for 1 – 14 days and then CF + JSC @5% for 15-42 days. Group III was fed with CF JSC @5% for 1 – 42 days. Group IV was fed with CF for 1 – 14 days and CF + JSC @10% for 15 – 42 days. Group V was fed with CF + JSC @10% for 1 – 42 days. The influence of treatment diets on broiler was evaluated in terms of performance, haematological, biochemical, gross and histopathological changes. Body weight gain and feed intake was recorded at weekly intervals in each group. Six birds from each group were sacrificed at fortnightly intervals. Blood, serum and tissue samples were collected for haematological, biochemical profile and hitopathological studies. Treatment groups resulted in significant (P<0.05) reduction in body weight gains, feed consumption and increase in FCR. The percentage mortality in groups III, IV and V was 12.5, 29 and 33 per cent, respectively and in groups I and II no mortality was observed. Clinical signs such as dullness, inappetance, loss of condition, greenish diarrhoea, reduced water intake and muscular and nervous imbalance prior to death in birds of group V were observed. Haematological study revealed that overall mean values of PCV, Hb, TEC and TLC were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in all the treatment groups. Group II and IV showed less reduction as compared to group III and V, respectively. The biochemical profile showed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in total protein, albumin, globulin, HDL cholesterol while significant increase in A/G ratio, ALT, AST, creatinine, bilirubin, total cholesterol and triglycerides was observed in all the treatment groups but the changes were less in group II and IV as compared to group III and V respectively. The gross pathological changes in treatment groups included hydropericardium, enlargement with rounded borders of liver, enteritis, regression in size of spleen and bursa of faricius. The histopathological changes included congestion and haemorrhages in various organs of treatment groups. Fatty changes were found in liver of group III, IV and V and in heart fatty changes were noted in group V. Heart sections revealed separated, disrupted muscle fibres. Liver sections revealed degenerative changes, necrosis in groups IV and V. Enterisis, infilitration of mononuclear cells in villi, broad and eroded villi observed in intestine. Focal shrinkage of glomeruli, degenerative ruptured tubules were noted in kidney sections. Sections of spleen revealed congestion and depletion of germinal centres. Bursa of fabricisus sections showed severe congestion and depletion of lymphoid follicles. The lesions described were more evident in group III and V as compared to group II and IV respectively as prolonged duration of toxicity in group III and V. The present study concluded that the toxicity of Jatropha at 10% level was severe in comparison to 5% level. At same level it’s toxicity was considerably less if the birds were maintained on normal feed for the 1 two weeks as the immune status of the birds will be sufficiently functional to withstand the toxicity. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------% : Percent & : And @ : At the rate of < : Less than A/G ratio : Albumin/Globulin ratio AC : Activated Charcoal ALT : Alanine Transaminase ANOVA : Analysis of variance AST : Aspertate Transaminase CF : Control Feed Cmm : Cubic millimeter EDTA : Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid et al. : And associates/co-workers FCR : Feed conversion ratio Fig. : Figure (s) g / gm : Gram (s) Gp/gps : group / groups H & E : Haematoxylin and Eosin Hb : Haemoglobin HDL : High density lipoprotein(s) IU/L : International unit(s)/Litre JSC : Jatropha deoiled Seed Cake Kg : Kilo gram(s) mg : Milli gram(s) P : Level of significance PCV : Packed Cell Volume ppb : Parts per billion ppm : Parts per million RBC : Red Blood Corpuscles S.E : Standard Error SGOT : Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetic Transaminase TEC : Total Erythrocytes Count TLC : Total Leucocytes Count UV : Ultra Violet WBC : White Blood Corpuscles -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------