EFFECTS OF CONCURRENT ADMINISTRATION OF LEAD AND SELENIUM ON SOME HEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF BROILER-CHICKENS

As compared to intoxication with lead or selenium alone, the concurrent administration of lead and selenium to broiler chickens produced more deleterious effects characterized by adverse changes in haematological parameters and severe alterations in serum total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase levels. Deleterious effects were more pronounced when lead was administered as second toxic chemical in the presence of selenium in the diet of the birds. Significant haematological depressions leading to anaemia were recorded during subacute lead toxicosis when selenium was concurrently administered in the feed, indicating an enhancement of lead toxicity in the presence of selenium.