Study of ochratoxin A (OTA)-induced oxidative stress markers in broiler chicks

The current study was designed to investigate the effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the oxidative stress in day-old broiler chicks. A total of 60-day-old broiler chicks were divided into four equal groups A-D. Group A was control, groups B-D were administered with different levels of OTA (1.6, 3.2 and 6.4 mg/kg of feed), respectively, for 10 days from day one of their age. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant status of blood plasma, RBCs hemolysate and supernatant of tissue homogenates (liver, kidney and muscles) were estimated in all groups on days 11 and 31 in order to determine the oxidative stress in chicks. The results revealed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the SOD, GPx and TAS levels in all OTA-fed groups. It was found persistent even after 21 days of withdrawal of toxin-contaminated feed in all tissues except RBCs hemolysate. Present study described the OTA-induced oxidative stress as indicated by the low levels of SOD, GPx and TAS in different biological samples of broiler chicks.