Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on biochemical, haematological and pathological parameters of quails (Coturnik coturnix japonica) during chronic aflatoxicosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective efficacy of L-carnitine administration in the prevention of toxic effects of experimental chronic aflatoxicosis. A total of 80 and eight weeks old Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were used in this experiment. They were divided into one control and three treatment group each containing 20 quails square group II L-carnitine 200 mg/l via drinking water, group III aflatoxin (AF) 60 mu g/kg feed, group IV AF (60 mu g/kg feed) plus L-carnitine (200 mg/l via drinking water)D. The experimental period lasted 60 days. Control group was fed with unsupplemented basal diet and water. The low dose of AF (60 mu g/kg feed) significantly increased the level of total bilirubin (p<0.001) and AST enzyme activity (p<0.001); and significantly decreased the levels of glucose (p<0.05), total cholesterol (p<0.05), VLDL (p<0.001), triglyceride (p<0.001), albumin (p<0.001) and calcium (p<0.001). The low dose of AF (60 mu g/kg feed) significantly decreased the count of PCV (p<0.01) and RBC (p<0.001) and significantly prolonged the coagulation time (p<0.001) when compared with control group. AST enzyme activity and bilirubin concentrations statistically decreased in AF+L-carnitine (group IV) when compared to AF (group III) (p<0.001) while glucose (p<0.05), albumin (p<0.001) haemotocrit (p<0.01) and RBC (p<0.001) increased and coagulation time shortened (p<0.001). L-carnitine supplementation was shown to partially protect on glucose, albumin, bilirubin concentrations, RBC and coagulation time and to fully protect haemotocrit level and AST enzyme activity against adverse effect of AF. It is concluded that the supplementation of the low dose AF (60 mu g/kg feed) had significantly alterations and toxic effects on pathological, biochemical and haematological parameters and L-carnitine administration (200 mg/l via drinking water) had partial protective effect against the toxic effects of AF on pathological, biochemical and haematological parameters of quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during experimental chronic aflatoxicosis.