Pakistan Veterinary Journal (Jul 2008)
EFFECTS OF ETHANOL ON DIFFERENT ORGANS AND ON FCR IN QUAILS (COTURNIX JAPONICA)
Abstract
A study was planned to investigate the effects of different doses of ethanol on body organs of Japanese quails. A total of 120 quails were randomly divided into five groups, A, B, C, D and E. Quails of groups A, B, C and D were given ethanol at concentrations of 2, 4, 8 and 16%, respectively in drinking water for four weeks, while birds of group E served as untreated control. The results at the end of 4th week revealed a significant effect on relative weight of heart, kidney and lungs in most treated groups. The increase in heart and lung weight was significant (P<0.05) in quail given 4% and higher ethanol, of kidney given 2 to 8% ethanol, while statistically no effect was observed on relative weight of liver. The relative weight of the proventriculus and the intestine at 4th week also showed statistically no difference compared to control group. However, the weight of the gizzard at 4th week increased significantly (P0.05) in groups given 8 to 16% ethanol and the increase was 42% in these groups compared with control group. The lymphoid organs at the end of 4th week revealed significant difference in weight of the bursa of Fabricius in quails given 16% ethanol and of the thymus in quails given 4 to 16% ethanol. Statistically, no difference was observed in spleen weight of treated groups compared to control group. The gross and light microscopic examination failed to reveal significant changes in these organs with routine methods of examination. Ethanol showed a significant effect on feed conversion ratio which was poor in ethanol treated groups; at the end of 4th week, it varied from 232 to 442% in groups given 8 and 16% ethanol, respectively. These data suggest that ethanol has significant effects on relative weight of heart, kidney, lungs, thymus, and on feed conversion ratio in the Japanese quails.
