To elucidate the clinico-physiological, haemato- biochemical parameters; the present study was carried out on 48 layer birds of above 2 months age that were divided into six groups consisting of 8 in each. Group 1 served as control, group 2 was treated with Imidacloprid @ 200 ppm in feed, group 3 was treated with vitamin C @ 200 ppm in feed, group 4 was treated with both Imidacloprid @ 200 ppm and vitamin C 200 ppm, group 5 was treated with Withania somnifera @ 500 ppm in feed and group 6 was treated with imidacloprid @ 200 ppm in feed + vitamin C @ 200 ppm in feed + Withania somnifera @ 500 ppm in feed. Clinical signs exhibited by the birds in groups 1, 3 and 6 were apparently healthy and the birds in group 2 were apparently healthy up to the end of 30 days, but later they started showing clinical symptoms like reduced feed intake, dullness, diarrhoea, decreased size of eggs and reduced production, with increasing severity as per the advancement in age. Reduction in body weights was observed in group 2 in comparison to group 1 and in groups 4 and 6 weights increased significantly (P<0.05) in comparison to group 2. Haematological studies revealed insignificant (P<0.05) decrease of Hb, PCV, TEC, TLC and lymphocytes in birds of group 2 in comparison to groups 1, 3 and 5. The biochemical assays showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction of glucose, total protein and albumin in group 2 in comparison to groups 1, 3, 5 and 6. In groups 2, 4 and 6, the serum creatinine, BUN levels, AST and ALT activity were significantly (P<0.05) increased when compared to groups 1, 3 and 5. The present study concludes that altered body weights, haematological, biochemical, parameters were recorded which might be due to imidacloprid-induced oxidative stress. Supplementation of vitamin C @ 200 ppm in feed and Withania somnifera @ 500 ppm in feed resulted in moderate protection to counteract the toxic effects of imidacloprid.
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