Effect of milk thistle oil (Silymarin) on histopathological characteristics of local hens exposed to aflatoxins

The study aimed to assess Milk Thistle oi reducing the aflatoxin damage and improve the health status of local breed hens. The study was performed on 60 hens aged 35 weeks, weighing 2-2.5 kg of the body was obtained and housed on a private poultry farm in north of Baghdad (Altaji) for a period of 9 weeks from 22 October until 22 December 2020. Hens were divided to three treatments (20 hens). The first was fed a basal diet free of aflatoxin. The 2nd fed on a contaminated diet with aflatoxin (14.6 ppb) while the 3rd fed as in the 2nd with 0.5% of Milk Thistle oil /kg feed. A 5 hens from each group were slaughtered at the end of the trial for the histopathological inspection of liver, spleen and intestine tissues to evaluate the harmful effect of aflatoxin and the repairing role of Milk Thistle. In G2 Aflatoxin group there was leg weakness, lameness, abnormal pigmentation (shank, feet), lethargy, and the crop is free from food. While in the 3rd group, the macro and microscopic examination of the symptoms were less marked and almost invisible. We conclude that silymarin may have a highly effect in repairing the aflatoxin damage to the body tissues of laying hens.