Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical,haematological,biochemical , histopathological changes occurred due to aflatoxicosis in white pekin ducklings and its amelioration by n-acetyl cysteine (NAC).A total number of 120 randomly selected day old white pekin ducklings and were divided into four groups of 30 ducklings in each group, having 3 replicas of 10 each. The group 1 was considered as control groupand were fed with normal basal diet and water daily for 28days. Aflatoxin(AF) was added at the rate 100 ppb in remaining all group. NAC was added to feed of group 3 and group 4 ducklings at the rate 3.2 and 5.2 gm/kg body weight. The ducklings were found dull, depressed , anorectic and showed signs of lameness. Following the administration of AF, on 28th day blood samples were collected for haematological and biochemical analysis. Group 2 ducklings showed increase in serum enzyme levels like AST , ALT , ALP , Urea and creatinine in comparison to control ducklings. In group 3 slight decrease in serum AST , ALT , ALP , Urea and creatinine levels as compared to group 2 that is aflatoxin treated group. There was significant decrease Aflatoxin induced (ROS) accompanied with significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in different organs and a significant decrease in CAT , SOD and GPx levels. While there wasan increase in serum AST , ALT, ALP , Urea and creatinine levels. In group 2. Histopathological changes were observed like vacuolar degeneration in liver, mild congestion in liver, increased bowman space in glomeruli of kidney, degeneration and necrosis of tubular epithelial cells of kidney. But group 3 and 4 ducklings showed improvement in gross and histopathological changes are less severe. Present study revealed that administration of NAC might be useful for the treatment of aflatoxicosis in ducklings.