Haematological and serum biochemical derangements induced by acute exposure to didecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide in Gallus gallus domesticus.

Abdul, Bello Ayema; Isa, Hamza Ibrahim; Shittu, Muftau

Background: Infectious diseases have negatively impacted poultry productivity, thereby causing economic losses and international trade embargoes. Several chemical cocktails are being employed to 'treat' such diseases that have defied known interventions. Quaternary ammonium compounds are amongst such chemicals being used to disinfect drinking water of poultry, with a premise of therapeutic effect. Such extra-label use has limited toxicological data. We set out to determine the haematological and serum biochemical derangements associated with acute oral exposure to didecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DDAB), in 6-week-old Isa Brown pullets. The pullets were haphazardly assigned into control (n = 10) and DDAB (n = 10) exposed groups. The exposure group was administered, with the aid of an insulin syringe, a single oral dose of DDAB at 360 mg/kg, determined from a previous acute toxicity study. Results: Following monitoring for toxic signs and/or death during 14 days, blood samples were collected for analyses. Haematological analyses, determined following established principles, revealed significant (p < 0.05) increases in packed cell volume, total erythrocyte counts and monocytes, but decreased heterophil and eosinophil counts, in the birds administered DDAB. Serum biochemical assay for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, appraised using appropriate ELISA kits (Randox® Laboratories), revealed significant (p < 0.05) elevations in these enzymes. Malondialdehyde level was significantly (p < 0.05) raised but glutathione concentration and catalase activity were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased. Urea and creatinine were significantly (p < 0.05) increased. Conclusions: At the dose studied, DDAB traversed the digestive tract barrier and accessed systemic circulation to induce haemato-biochemical derangement in chickens. Liver and kidney functions were adversely affected while oxidative distress was induced. Strict adherence to manufacturer's recommended doses should be practised while using this chemical in water sanitation and other applications in poultry farms.

ACUTE toxicity testing; CHICKENS; AMMONIUM bromide; QUATERNARY ammonium compounds; EMBARGO

Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 2025, Vol 49, Issue 1, p1

2522-8307

Academic Journal

10.1186/s42269-025-01310-w