Safety evaluation of certain NSAIDs in birds

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the safety of certain NSAIDs viz. aspirin, paracetamol, ketoprofen, nimesulide, meloxicam and celecoxib in broiler chickens. Forty-eight, healthy, broiler chickens were randomly divided into 8 groups consisting of 6 birds in each group. Group I served as control and received 1.5 ml of distilled water P.O., where as group II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII received 2.5 mg of newlinediclofenac, 10 mg of aspirin, 10 mg of paracetamol, 2 mg of nimesulide, 4 mg of newlineketoprofen, 0.5 mg of meloxicam and 3.5 mg of celecoxib, respectively, P.O., for five newlinedays. Manifestation of clinical signs of toxicity such as anorexia, disinclination to move within the cage, lethargy, depression, recumbency, shrunken eyes and blood in the faecal droppings or mucous mixed diarrhea observed for some groups were considered as newlineNSAID toxicity. Significant increase in serum biochemical parameters such as AST, ALT, ALP, BUN, creatinine and uric acid and significant decrease in serum albumin and total protein concentrations observed in some of the treatment groups such as diclofenac, aspirin, paracetamol and nimesulide during and later part of the study period are indicative of toxic effects of these drugs on intestines, liver and kidneys. However, no adverse reactions or toxic clinical signs, no major alterations in serum biochemical parameters and no gross or histopathological lesions were observed in any of the vital organs examined in treatment groups involving ketoprofen, meloxicam and celecoxib. newlineThus, it was concluded that, NSAIDs, ketoprofen, meloxicam and celecoxib at the dose of 4, 0.5 and 3.5 mg/kg, respectively administered orally for five days considered being safe for use in birds when compared to that of other NSAIDs, viz., diclofenac, aspirin, paracetamol and nimesulide for the dose and duration of the study undertaken.