Abstract
The present study was undertaken for the detection of arsenic in chickens and ducks and for studying the effect of spirulina in arsenic induced toxicities. Arsenic was detected qualitatively by Reinsch test, semiquantitatively by Arsenic test kit and quantitatively by Perkin-Elmer Hydride Generation AAS 300 system (HGQF-AAS) in seven organs and faeces of each of fifty live chickens and ducks collected randomly from different chickens and duck farms and markets from various places of each of five districts of Bangladesh i e. Chandpur, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barisal. One hundred and seventy five chicks and one hundred and seventy five ducklings were divided into five equal groups separately. One group (T₀) of chicks and one group of ducklings (T₀) were kept as control. One group (T₁) of chicks and one group (T₁) of ducks were given arsenic trioxide @ 100 mg/L drinking water and rest three groups of chickens & three groups of ducks (T₂, T₃ and T₄) were given arsenic trioxide @ 100 mg/L plus spirulina in three different doses i.e. 30, 60 and 120 mg/L in drinking water daily for 90 days. Five birds were sacrificed from each group in every 15 day intervals and toxic signs, body weight, hematobiochemical parameters and post mortem changes were recorded. Highest concentration of arsenic was found in liver in both the chickens (0.104 mg/Kg WW) and ducks (0.091 mg/Kg WW) followed by kidney, small intestine, thigh muscle, heart, femur, brain and faeces. Chickens and ducks of T₁ groups (only arsenic trioxide) showed depression, reduced feed intake, dullness and ruffled feathers and skin lesions which were in mild in nature in other groups i.e. arsenic plus spirulina. In arsenic treated groups (T₁) the not gained body weight was maximum (14.33% in chickens and 14.93% in ducks), whereas in arsenic plus spirulina treated groups (T₂, T₃ and T₄) the not gained body weight in chickens (4.89-10.93%), and ducks (4.08-11.26%) were better than only arsenic treated groups. Reduction of TEC, Hb and PCV values and rise of ESR values were significant (P<0.01) in T₁ (arsenic treated) groups. However, in arsenic plus spirulina treated rest groups reduction of TEC, Hb and PCV were less than arsenic treated groups. All the biochemical parameters (SGPT, SGOT, ALP, LDH and ACP) were significantly (P<0.01) elevated in arsenic treated groups. However, the elevation of these parameters was less in arsenic plus spirulina treated groups (T₂, T₃ and T₄). Enlargement of livers and pin point hemorrhages were observed in liver, kidney, intestine and heart in arsenic treated groups but these lesions were mild in other groups. The distribution of arsenic concentration was highest in liver and lowest in faeces of chickens and ducks. Maximum reduction of arsenic was recorded in all organs following highest doses of spirulina (120 mg/L). The present study reveals that arsenic is also a threat for poultry. However, spirulina may be helpful for reducing the body burden of arsenic in poultry.