Effects of experimental Mesobuthus eupeus scorpion envenomation on chicken.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, histopathological and hematological effects of Mesobuthus eupeus venom on chicken organs. Adult chickens were subcutaneously injected with five doses of M. eupeus venom (0.5, 2, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg; four chickens per each dose). Symptoms were recorded during the experiment and blood samples were collected for hematological analysis. Moreover, a complete necropsy was performed. After macroscopic examination, tissue samples were obtained from the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, intestines and brain of the chickens three days after venom administration. In intravenous injection, lethal dose of the venom was determined at 15 mg/kg. The first clinical, pathological and hematological symptoms in envenomated chickens were observed at M. eupeus doses of 2, 5 and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively. Hematological examination revealed a reduction in lymphocyte count following experimental envenomation, which returned to the pre-experiment level in almost all the cases. On the other hand, heterophil count was found to increase during the experimental period. In addition, erythrocyte count and hematocrit level were stable at all the intervals. Pathological examination was indicative of severe pulmonary hemorrhage, pulmonary and cerebral edema, tubular necrosis of the kidneys, hemorrhage in kidneys and heart, hyaline thrombus and congestion of the liver. According to the results of this study, poultry are resistant to the toxic effects of M. eupeus venom.