OMEPRAZOLE, A SPECIFIC GASTRIC-SECRETION INHIBITOR ON OXYNTICOPEPTIC CELLS, REDUCES GIZZARD EROSION IN BROILER CHICKS FED WITH TOXIC FISH MEALS

The relation between gizzard erosion-black vomit (GE-BV) and gastric s ecretion is not completely understood. A pharmacological approach to r educe the presence of GE-BV in chicks due to fish meal in diets is als o unknown. In this study the use of omeprazole, a H+/K+ ATPase inhibit or, and fish meals of different biotoxicological characteristics, show ed that: 1) Omeprazole decreased total gastric acid content, GE scores and severe GE (SGE) cases, in a dose-dependent manner. This reduction was significant at levels higher than 20 mg omeprazole/Kg body weight (BW)/day (Q < 0.01). The addition of 50 mg omeprazole/kg BW/day almos t completely prevented the incidence of SGE cases and reduced in 50% G E score in chicks (p < 0.01). 2) A significant reduction in specific m ortality, near 90%, was also seen with all toxic fish meals when omepr azole (50 mg/Kg BW/day) was added to experimental diets in comparison to control groups. However, no mortality was observed when omeprazole was added to diets containing non-toxic fish meals. 3) In chicks fed w ith toxic fish meals, addition of different amounts of omeprazole to d iets changed the relative weight of proventriculus (e < 0.01) and gizz ard (p < 0.05). Maximum effect was obtained with omeprazole concentrat ion higher than 50 mg/kg BW/day. 4) Omeprazole did not change feed int ake in chicks fed with toxic fish meal. However, in some fish meal a r eduction on weight gain was observed with the addition omeprazole. (C) 1991 Elsevier Science Inc.