Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
09:23
Parasite Induced Genetically Driven Autoimmune Chagas Heart Disease in the Chicken Model
Published on: July 29, 2012
14.4K
Histopathological effects of azithromycin on broilers: immune system alterations and apoptotic changes.
A Fotouh1, N K Elbarbary2, M A Moussa3
1Department of Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, New Valley University, Elkharga, Egypt.
British Poultry Science
|September 17, 2025
Summary
High doses of azithromycin in broilers negatively impact immune function and organ health. This study found that azithromycin at 300 mg/kg caused significant immune organ damage and increased cell death in chickens.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Immunology
Background:
- Azithromycin is a widely used antibiotic in poultry farming.
- Understanding its toxicological effects on broiler chickens is crucial for animal welfare and food safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in-vivo toxicity profile of azithromycin in broiler chickens.
- To evaluate the impact of different azithromycin doses on broiler immune system function, organ histology, and cell apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- An in-vivo study involving 90 Hubbard broiler chicks divided into control and two treatment groups.
- Oral administration of azithromycin at 50 mg/kg (G2) and 300 mg/kg (G3) body weight.
- Assessment of immunological parameters, histopathological changes, and immunohistochemical markers (caspase-3) in immune organs.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in bursa of Fabricius and spleen weights was observed in azithromycin-treated groups, especially G3.
- Reduced phagocytic activity and index were noted in both treated groups (G2 and G3).
- Histopathological examination revealed degenerative changes and necrosis in immune organs, with strong caspase-3 immunoreactivity indicating elevated apoptosis in the high-dose group (G3).
Conclusions:
- Azithromycin administration, particularly at 300 mg/kg, impairs broiler immune function.
- High-dose azithromycin promotes apoptosis and induces microscopical alterations in broiler immune organs.
- The findings highlight potential risks associated with high azithromycin dosages in poultry farming.
Related Concept Videos
01:32RNA Splicing
Splicing is the process by which eukaryotic RNA is edited before its translation into protein. The RNA strand transcribed from eukaryotic DNA is called the primary transcript. The primary transcripts that become mRNAs are called precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs). Eukaryotic pre-mRNA contains alternating sequences of exons and introns. Exons are nucleotide sequences that code for proteins, whereas introns are the non-coding regions. In RNA splicing, introns are removed and exons are bonded...
02:41Lethal Alleles
Agouti: A Lethal Allele
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
01:20Mismatch Repair
Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
01:11Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...