Study of potential toxic effects of acetylsalicylic acid upon short-term repeated oral administration in chickens

In avian medicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the treatment of various musculoskeletal inflammatory disorders. Although usage of acetylsalicylic acid suggested in birds and continued to be use in the treatment of certain clinical conditions nevertheless, the studies relating to the potential toxic effects of this drug upon repeated oral administration in birds are rarely reported. Thus, a study was designed to assess the toxic effects of acetylsalicylic acid in chickens. For the purpose of the study two groups (n = 10) of broiler chickens were used. Group I served as normal control and received distilled water (1.0 ml/day, p.o.) and group II received acetylsalicylic acid (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.) daily at 24 h interval for five consecutive days. Clinical signs of toxicity such as hypo activity, disinclination to move and watery droppings accompanied with blood mixed mucous observed in group II birds. These birds showed significant (P<0.01) decrease in serum total protein concentration and significant (P<0.05) decrease in the total erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, per cent PCV and platelet count. Besides, gross and histopathological lesions were observed in small intestine. Thus, based on the results, it was concluded that acetylsalicylic acid (10 mg/kg) upon repeated oral administration daily for a period of five days found toxic in chickens.