HAEMATOLOGICAL, SERUM BIOCHEMICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA) EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH SALMONELLA ENTERICA SEROVAR GALLINARUM

HAEMATOLOGICAL, SERUM BIOCHEMICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA) EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH SALMONELLA ENTERICA SEROVAR GALLINARUM

Abstract:

A total of 160 (108 males and 52 females) Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were used for the experiment. The quails were obtained at the age of four weeks from the Poultry Unit of the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. They were randomly selected and assigned into four groups (A, B, C and D) of forty quails each; with 27 males and 13 females in group A , 23 males and 17 females in group B, 29 males and 11 females in group C and D respectively. Groups A, B and C were infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum per os at the dose of 106,104 and 102, respectively, while group D served as the control. Blood and sera were used for the determination of haematological and biochemical parameters, respectively. The values were relatively unchanged (P > 0.05) between the groups before infection in the haematological and serum biochemical parameters. There were, however, significant changes (P<0.05) in haematological parameters like; red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb) concencentrations, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cell (WBC), heterophil and lymphocyte counts between the infected groups when compared with the control group. There were also significant changes (P<0.05) in these haematological parameters post-infection compared to before infection within each infected group. Furthermore, there were also significant changes (P<0.05) in serum biochemical parameters like; glucose, total protein, albumin, activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and urea concentrations between infected groups and the control group. Significant changes (P<0.05) in these biochemical parameters were also observed post-infection compared to pre-infection within each infected group. Clinical signs observed in the infected groups included; weakness, ruffled feathers, somnolence, greenish-yellow diarrhea, weight loss, increase body temperature, drop in egg production, decrease in feed and water consumption. Grossly, congestion of the liver, lung and ovarian follicle was generally noted; also hepato-splenomegaly, swollen and congested kidney, bronzed liver and ascites were observed. Mortality rate ranged from 30% to 35%. Histopathological lesions included; congestion and cellular infiltration of various organs, vacuolation of hepatocytes and haemorrhagic liver. The experiment lasted 120 days. The findings in this study indicated that Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) are highly susceptible (high morbididty) to Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum. Further studies should be carried out in the areas of pathogenesis of fowl typhoid and virulence of the organism that caused fowl typhoid in quails.

HAEMATOLOGICAL, SERUM BIOCHEMICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA) EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH SALMONELLA ENTERICA SEROVAR GALLINARUM