Changes in the serum enzyme levels and liver lesions of broiler birds reared under different management conditions

Abstract

Metabolism of living organisms can be disrupted by the changes in the environment and nutrient intake causing serious diseases such as sudden deaths in broilers. High environmental temperature and ad libitum feeding were suspected as predisposing factors inducing sudden deaths. Our objective was to determine the changes in serum enzyme levels and liver lesions in broiler birds subjected to high temperature and ad libitum feeding. COBB 500 broiler strain was (n=90) divided into three groups including control group (n=30) treatment 1 (n=30, 35 0 C for 12 h per day) and treatment 2 (n=30, fed ad libitum) and studied from 26 days to 40 days of age. Blood samples (1.5 ml) with 6 replications were withdrawn from wing vein of the birds. The serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Total Protein and Albumin levels were assessed using commercial kits. Liver tissues of 14, 20, 33 and 38 days old birds from treatment 3 (33 0 C, ad libitum feeding) were fixed, processed and stained with Haemotoxylin and Eosin for histopathological assessment. Data were analyzed using General Linear Model in Minitab 14. The ALP levels were increased with age in control group and treatment 1 group but decreased in the treatment 2 group. The ALT levels were decreased with age in control group and treatment 1, whereas, increased in the treatment 2 group. AST levels were increased in all three groups. The total Protein levels were increased in treatment 2 but Albumin levels were remained similar throughout the lifespan of birds. Histopathological studies revealed that hepatic necrosis was common in older birds.

The effect of fosbac on liver and kidney function parameters in broilers

“…In our study, as shown in Figure 1, fosbac administration for 5 days at two different doses had no effect on AST activity between groups (P > 0.05). High AST activity has been reported in the liver such as ALT and in skeletal and heart muscles, brain, and kidney of birds [16,17]. Routinely, increase in plasma AST activity in birds is suggested when such activity is greater than 275 IU/L and it results from either hepatic or muscle injury, which allow the leakage of intracellular AST into the blood.…”

“…As shown in Figure 2, there was no significant difference in LDH activity, between control and test groups. LDH is found in nearly all avian tissues and its plasma activity is less than 1 000 IU/L in normal birds, LDH increased activity above this value has been associated with hepatocellular disease [16,17]. Compared with AST and ALT, increase and then decline in plasma LDH activity is more rapid after liver or muscle damage [17,18].…”

“…Although this is not a specific test for providing information about hepatic function, but when AST activity is greater than 800 IU/L, it is indicative of a severe hepatic disorder [18]. In most species including birds, plasma ALT activity, also increases in such situations but has not get convenient advantage over AST as a test for hepatocellular disease [16,17]. As shown in Figure 2, there was no significant difference in LDH activity, between control and test groups.…”

Hawthorn (Crataegus Oxyacantha) Extract in the Drinking Water of Broilers on Growth and Incidence of Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome (PHS)

“…Alkaline phosphatase is one of the serum enzymes involved in dephosphorylation and active in the organs of liver, intestine and bones, but the highest activity of this enzyme is in the alkaline environment of the liver. Often, increased levels of alkaline phosphatase indicates liver damage (Sorbi et al, 1999;Senanayake et al, 2015). Higher serum levels in ascitic broilers indicate a higher tissue peroxidation rate which results in liver, lung and heart damage.…”

“…One of the most important ways to diagnose pathological conditions in birds is the serum enzyme activity (Senanayake et al, 2015). Alkaline phosphatase is one of the serum enzymes involved in dephosphorylation and active in the organs of liver, intestine and bones, but the highest activity of this enzyme is in the alkaline environment of the liver.…”