Petroleum Hydrocarbon-induced Changes in Tissues of the Native Fowl (Gallus domesticus) following chronic exposure.

Abstract

The effect of pollution on the native fowl (Gallus domesticus) from the petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC)-polluted
area of Etekwuru in Ohaji Egbema was studied. Identical fowls from an unpolluted area of (Okwunakuwa-
Uvuru) Mbaise served as the control.The concentrations of albumin, bilirubin, cholesterol, liver protein, ascorbic
acid (AA) and glutathione (GSH), and the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the serum of the native fowls from the two different
environments in Imo State were determined/assayed . Results of serum albumin, bilirubin, cholesterol and liver
protein concentrations obtained for fowls reared at Ohaji Egbema were not significantly different (p<0.05) from
those obtained for fowls from Mbaise. However, mean values obtained for ascorbic acid (AA) and glutathione
(GSH) for test and control animals were significantly different (p<0.05). The activities of ALT and AST in the
fowls from both environments were essentially similar. The mean activity of ALP was substantially lower in the
fowls from Ohaji Egbema (43.32±4.44) when compared to that in fowls from Mbaise (54.98±3.30). Thus, only
the concentrations of ascorbic acid and glutathione, and the activity of alkaline phosphatase proved responsive to
pollution due to the petroleum hydrocarbon in Ohaji Egbema.