Toxicopathogenic effect of hexavalent chromium (VI) in chickens

Abstract

The toxicopathogenic effect of hexavalent chromium was determined in broiler chickens by oral administration of one-tenth of acute lethal dose50, (ALD50) ofchromium oxide (17.2 mg/kg bw) daily for 6 weeks. Clinical signs of toxicity developed from 3 week post-treatment, consisting of gastrointestitlal disturbances and loss of body weight without any morlality in all treatment birds. There were significant decrease in plasma protein and cholesterol and increase in serum transaminase, alkaline and acid phosphatase activities of treated birds. Toxicity had induced moderate to severe pathomorphological changes. suggestive of toxic hepatitis and nephrosis, varying degrees of necrosis and/or depletion of lymphoid cells in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius with presence, of multinucleated giant cells. Liver contained the largest residues of chromium, followed by kidneys, intestine, spleen, brain, heart and lowest in skeletal muscles. The intensity of pathomorphological changes was proportional to the accumulated amount of chromium in tissues/organs.