The Effects of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Turkey Poults: Assessment of Biochemical Parameters and Histopathological Changes

Mohamed F Abou Elazab; Nasr E Nasr; Mohamed S Ahmed; Barakat M Alrashdi; Naief Dahran; Mohamed A Alblihed; Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy

doi:10.3390/vetsci9050240

The Effects of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Turkey Poults: Assessment of Biochemical Parameters and Histopathological Changes

Vet Sci. 2022 May 19;9(5):240. doi: 10.3390/vetsci9050240.

Authors

Mohamed F Abou Elazab¹, Nasr E Nasr², Mohamed S Ahmed³, Barakat M Alrashdi⁴, Naief Dahran⁵, Mohamed A Alblihed⁶, Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy⁷

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt.
² Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt.
³ Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt.
⁴ Biology Department, College of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt.

Abstract

A lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a large molecule and an outer membrane glycolipid found in Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli). These molecules (LPS) target acute inflammatory responses and significant physiological changes. Importantly, E. coli is considered one of the most important bacterial causes of avian colibacillosis that affect domestic turkey industry. However, little information is available about the potential influence of LPS on the biochemical parameters and histopathological changes in turkey poults. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules on serum biomarkers and histopathological changes in turkey poults. The birds were randomly divided into five groups, as follows: group I did not receive any inoculation; group II was inoculated with sterile saline; and groups III, IV, and V were inoculated intraperitoneally with LPS at 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg of body weight (BW), respectively. The biochemical parameters and the histopathology of different organs were examined in all birds one day post-inoculation. Our results revealed hypolipidemia, hypoglycemia, a significant decrease in uric acid, and a significant increase in serum activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK), as well as cardiac troponin T concentrations in treated groups. Moreover, there was a significant increase in α1-, β-, and γ-globulin concentrations and a decrease in albumin and α2-globulin concentrations in group V. However, a significant increase in α2- and γ-globulin levels and a decrease in albumin levels were detected in groups III and IV. In addition, significant decreases in the albumin/globulin ratio were recorded in all LPS-treated groups. Hepatocellular and cardiac muscle necrosis, slight renal changes, and massive pulmonary inflammatory reactions were recorded. This study provides valuable information about serum biomarkers, protein fractions, and histopathological changes in turkey poults treated with LPS for further investigations of pathophysiological mechanisms in avian medicine along with biomedical research.

Keywords: LPS; electrophoresis; pathology; serum biomarkers; turkey poults.

Grants and funding

Thanks and appreciation to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, facilitated by General Administration of Animal Productions for enabling research and using its facilities.