Oral administration of bismuth in broilers: Evaluation of clinical signs, Carcass lesions, pathology and serology

Bismuth has been found to be effective against clostridium perfringens and cecal campylobacter jejuni in Broilers. Although increasing consumption and production of bismuth is predicted, there is no information about the direct toxic effect of this metal in broilers.For this purpose Ross broiler experiment chicks received two concentration of bismuth in their water and control group received water without bismuth. At the end, blood samples collected for serological evaluation and the chickens were then euthanized and samples from brain, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, heart and liver were collected for histopathological studies. Gross and microscopic lesions in organs were evaluated.Gross evaluation showed the chickens of the control group remained healthy and active throughout the experiment, but those in the experimental group were lethargic and drowsy and some of them started to perish about two weeks after receiving bismuth. Also Black stool was seen in bismuth received chicks. Serological assessment showed that the Serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase, Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase and Uric acid values didn’t significantly alteramong the experimented and control groups.Microscopic evaluation revealed that no pathological changes were noticed on the vital organs; Liver, kidneys, heart, brain and gastrointestinal tract of chickens of the control and all treated groups. So adding of bismuth to diet of broilers in order to prevention of bacteria colonization, even in three foldconcentration, doesn’t affect broiler health

Bismuth, broilers, clinical signs, pathology, serology