Pathomorphological changes of flunixin meglumine toxicity in layer chicks

The aim of the 21 day toxicity study was to evaluate the pathomorphological effect of flunixin meglumine in layer chicks. The chicks of Group I were kept as control while groups II, III and IV were fed with diet containing flunixin meglumine @ 10 ppm, 25 ppm and 50 ppm respectively for 21 days. Clinical signs viz. anorexia, dullness,lethargy, lameness and uneven growth were noticed in chicks of treatment groups III and IV only. Maximum mortality was observed in group IV (12%) followed by group III (4%). A dose dependant reduction in body weight was observed in all the treatment groups. The mean values of Kidney: Body weight ratio was significantly increased in group IV. The plasma uric acid, creatinine and BUN values were significantly increased in group III whereas increase in group IV was highly significant. Grossly, there was deposition of chalky white urates on serosal surface of kidney, heart and liver in chicks of group IV which died during experiment. Microscopically, lesions were characterized by varying degrees of congestion, haemorrhages, degeneration, necrosis and deposition of urate crystals in visceral organs of group III and group IV chicks. The intensity and distribution of pathological lesions were more severe in chicks of group IV, followed by chicks of group III. The overall lesions gave an impression that flunixin meglumine was nephrotoxic in nature