Immune system modulation and cytological changes in response to ethion intoxication in poultry birds

Abstract

Present study was done to delineate the immune-regulated interplay following the toxicological deterring effect of ethion. The study was conducted in chicks and they were equally and randomly divided into four groups (n=6) with group I served as control, group II, III and IV were administered with ethion at 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg body weight per os route respectively for 30 days. On 30th day the blood and tissue samples were collected to assess the immunotoxic potential of ethion. The study revealed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in total protein, albumin and globulin, splenic cell cellularity count, lymphocytic count whereas significant (P < 0.05) increase was observed in dose dependent manner on apoptotic cell count via FACS. The non significant changes were observed in HI titre, DTH response and lymphocyte proliferation assay following 30 days administration of toxicant to chicks. Histopathological examination of spleen and skin tissue revealed more pronounced alteration in the normalcy of spleen and skin in group III and IV as compared to control. The study therefore concluded that ethion intoxication in poultry birds produced significant (P < 0.05) apoptosis in splenocytes, heterophilia and lymphocytopenia as a part of defensive mechanism albeit at given experimental doses direct immunotoxic effect was not advocated. Further downstream apoptotic signaling studies are warranted.