520 Pakistan Veterinary Journal ISSN: 0253-8318 (PRINT), 2074-7764 (ONLINE) Accessible at: www.pvj.com.pk Effects of Ochratoxin A Feeding in White Leghorn Cockerels on Hematological and Serum Biochemical Parameters and its Amelioration with Silymarin and Vitamin E Muhammad Fakhar-ud-Din Ahmad, Muhammad Kashif Saleemi*, Muhammad Zargham Khan, Faqir Muhammad 1 , Zahoor-ul-Hassan 2 , Aisha Khatoon, Sheraz Ahmed Bhatti, Rao Zahid Abbas 3 , Farzana Rizvi and Ishtiaq Ahmed 4 Department of Pathology, 1 Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad; 2 Department of Animal Sciences, KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar; 3 Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad; 4 Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. *Corresponding Author: drkashif313@yahoo.com ARTICLE HISTORY ABSTRACT Received: Revised: Accepted: October 22, 2011 December 25, 2011 January 18, 2012 The objective of the present study was to evaluate the hematobiochemical effects tempted by ochratoxin A (OTA) in White Leghorn (WL) cockerels and to evaluate the effect of silymarin (SL), vitamin E (VE) and their combination against OTA persuaded pathological alterations in cockerels. A total of 240 day-old WL cockerels were divided into 12 groups A-L having 20 birds in each group and group A was control. Two doses of OTA 1000 and 2000 µg/kg of feed were given to cockerels up to 7 weeks. Silymarin was administered at a dose rate of 10000 mg/kg and Vitamin E at a dose rate of 200 mg/kg alone and in combinations with two doses of OTA. In OTA treated groups total erythrocytes counts, leukocytes count, PCV and Hb were decreased as compared to control, SL and VE groups. Albumen and serum total proteins in OTA treated groups were significantly lower as compared to control, SL and VE groups. Serum alanine transferase was significantly increased in OTA fed groups in comparison with control, SL and VE groups. Creatinine and urea were increased in OTA treated groups but were almost normal in SL and VE groups. Results showed that OTA had severe effect on liver and kidney but SL and VE treated groups had normal liver and kidneys showing its hepatoprotective effects. However, at higher dose of OTA this ameliorative effect was partially observed. These agents may be recommended as a remedy for ochratoxicosis. ©2012 PVJ. All rights reserved Key words: Biochemistry Cockerels Ochratoxin A Silymarin Vitamin E White Leghorn To Cite This Article: Ahmad MFUD, MK Saleemi, MZ Khan, F Muhammad, ZU Hassan, A Khatoon, SA Bhatti, RZ Abbas, F Rizvi and I Ahmed, 2012. Effects of ochratoxin A feeding in white leghorn cockerels on hematological and serum biochemical parameters and its amelioration with silymarin and vitamin E. Pak Vet J, 32(4): 520-524. INTRODUCTION Ochratoxin A is an important mycotoxin produced by different Aspergillus and Penicillium species. The presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in animal feeds raises concerns in poultry and livestock industry due to subclinical intoxications and poor growth in animals (Gentles et al., 1999; Zia et al., 2010). OTA present in the poultry feeds in low to moderate levels induces immunosuppression, decreased bodyweight gains and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases (Saleemi et al., 2010; Mukhtar et al., 2010). OTA has gained considerable attention due to its intrinsic toxicity and its frequent occurrence in feed commodities used in livestock feeds. The main target organ of OTA in poultry, as in other species, appears to be the kidney, although liver, gastrointestinal tract, lymphoid organs, skeletal system, hematopoietic tissues and the reproductive organs can also be effected (Paterson and Lima, 2010). At higher toxic levels the birds show clinical signs of disease, mortality, nephritis (Elaroussi et al., 2006), hepatitis (Kumar et al., 2004). Ochratoxicosis developing from high degree of contamination of feeds with OTA is a common condition in different avian species. OTA induces degenerative changes and an increase in the weight of kidneys and liver (Stoev et al., 2011). OTA is frequently present in poultry feeds and its ingredients (Saleemi et al., 2012). Its levels in the feeds are kept minimum by different methods including use of ingredients having low levels of OTA, proper storage and use of toxin binders to bind the preformed mycotoxins and rendering them unabsorbable from the gut. All these methods work with a variable degree of efficiency. RESEARCH ARTICLE