Prolonged Use Of Chloramphenicol Induces Aplastic Anemia And Oxidative Stress In Broiler Chicken

In an attempt to combat bacterial infections in domestic poultry production in developing countries, poultry producers use antibiotics without recourse to its side effects. We investigated the effects of prolonged use of Chloramphenicol in the broilers and the antioxidant potential of four commercially available antioxidants and ascorbic acid. Two hundred and ten day old broilers were randomly divided into seven groups of thirty birds per group. Group A, (control) received Chloramphenicol for the first six days while all the other groups received it for six weeks. Group B did not receive any antioxidant. Group C received Vitamin C, Group D Selcon Forte, Group E Stressroak, Group F Superliv and Group G, Livestovit in drinking water. Blood samples were collected after six weeks in three replicates for haematological parameters and erythrocyte osmotic fragility, plasma ALT, AST and GGT. Five birds were culled from each group for the determination of the total GSH, H 2 O 2 and lipid peroxidation in the liver, kidney and the cerebrum. Those birds that received Chloramphenicol alone presented with aplastic anemia, elevated erythrocyte osmotic fragility and increased AST, ALT and GGT values. The levels of GSH, H 2 O 2 and lipid peroxidation also increased significantly. The anemia and oxidative stress was however corrected in the antioxidants groups. This study demonstrated that prolonged use of chloramphenicol induced non‐regenerative anaemia and oxidative stress, even at normal recommended dosage.