EFFECT OF CONCURRENT FEEDING OF FURAZOLIDONE AND SODIUM-CHLORIDE UPONSOME CLINICAL, PATHOLOGICAL AND CARDIAC MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS IN BROILER CHICKS

Broiler chicks in different groups were fed furazolidone (0, 400 and 8 00 mg/kg feed) and sodium chloride (500 and 1510 mg/kg feed) separatel y and concurrently from 1 to 30 days of age. Furazolidone (Fz) induced ascites, leg weakness, convulsions, depression and mortality was exac erbated by concurrent feeding of 1510 mg NaCl. Hemorrhages in the live r, swollen kidneys, pallor of the kidneys and cystic testes were prese nt in all birds fed furazolidone either alone or in combination with N aCl. However, at microscopic level, necrotic changes were observed in the liver and kidneys of birds fed NaCl only. Fz-induced cardiac ventr icular dilatation and thinning of walls were more severe when 400 mg F z was fed concurrently with 1510 mg NaCl but feeding of 800 mg Fz with the same level of NaCl resulted in partial amelioration of cardiac ch anges. It is suggested that high dietary NaCl may exacerbate and alter the clinical and morphological picture of Fz toxicosis.