Immuno-toxicological effects of different sub-lethal doses of thiamethoxam (TMX) in broiler birds

Abstract

This project was designed to evaluate the immunotoxicological effects of thiamethoxam (TMX). One-day-old broiler chicks (total of 90) were procured and maintained under standard housing conditions and divided into five groups for 45 days. Group A kept as control. Different doses of TMX were administered through crop tube containing 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg bwt/daily to groups B, C, D, and E, respectively. Immunological parameters including response to sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), avian tuberculin responses and carbon clearance assay were accessed. It was observed that response to SRBCs including IgM and IgG, avian tuberculin and phagocytic responses are adversely affected in a dose-dependent manner with TMX toxicity. Hence it was concluded from the results that TMX is responsible for immunosuppression in broiler chicks even at different sub-lethal doses.

Keywords:

• Immunity
• immune organs
• TMX
• broiler
• toxicology

Acknowledgements

Ethical approval: All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

Disclosure statement

The authors have declared no conflict of interest with respect to authorship, research or publication of this article. The authors further declare that they alone are responsible for the content of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was not part of any funded project.