Immuno and Nephrotoxicity of Ochratoxin A on Broiler Chicken and a Trial for Protection

Abstract

The current study is planned to investigate the immuno- and nephro-toxic effects of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in broiler chickens and its potential mechanisms of action as well as to assess the ability of quercetin (QUE) to ameliorate these toxic effects. For this purpose, forty one-day-old broiler chicks were divided equally and randomly into four groups; each group (10 broiler chicks) was treated for 42 days. The ingredient composition of the basal diet is based on NRC requirements. Feed and water were available on ad-libitum basis. They were exposed to OTA and/or QUE in feed as follows: The 1st (Control) group: It received basal feed and water without any treatment The 2nd (OTA) group: It received Ochratoxin A in diet (0.5 mg/kg feed). The 3rd (QUE) group: It received Quercetin in diet (0.5 g/kg feed). The 4th (OTA + QUE) group: It received both OTA and QUE by the same previously mentioned concentration and route. Blood samples were taken from punctured wing veins of chickens and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes at the end of the experimental period, 12 hours after feed deprivation. For biochemical analysis, serum was taken and kept at -70 oC. Exsanguination was used to euthanize the chickens, and kidney, bursa, spleen and thymus tissue samples were taken and separated into three portions. For histological investigation, the first part was fixed in neutral buffer formalin 10%. Using a glass Teflon homogenizer, the second part was homogenised to produce 10% tissue homogenate in a cold 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH = 7.4). To be used in gene expression analysis, the third part was snap-frozen and kept at -70 oC. Humoral immune response was tested through haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test to determine antibody titer against Newcastle Disease (ND) and Avian Influenza (AI) vaccines, and against Infectious Bronchitis (IB) vaccine using ELISA