[The effect of polychlorinated biphenyls in chickens: pathologic changes in the organs after short-term and long-term...

Short-time administration (for a week) of feed experimentally contaminated by Delor 103 at a rate of 1000 mg per kg resulted in chick mortality higher than 30%, in great cytological changes in the central lymphatic organs, thyroid atrophy, liver dystrophy with hyperplasia of the epithelium of intrahepatic bile ducts and hydro-pericardium. Delor 103 rates of 150 mg and 75 mg per 1 kg feed administered for a long time (four weeks) did not induce any great mutual differences in pathological changes. In comparison with lesions found after the administration of the high rate for a short time, the lesions in bursa Fabricii and thymus were analogical, but less intensive, and they were manifest in a different degree of the depletion of germinal centres, and dystrophic changes were also observed in kidneys and testicles since the seventh and eighth week. Signs of reparative processes were observed at the same time in all examined organs since the seventh week. The cytolysis of central lymphatic organs and hydropericardium are being considered as regular morphological changes accompanying PCB intoxication in domestic fowl.