Haematology and Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility Indices in Domestic Chicken Following Exposure to a Polyvalent Iodophorous Disinfectant

* Corresponding author. e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]. The effect of prolonged use of Iodosteryl, a polyvalent iodophorous compound, as water disinfectant, on the hematology and erythrocyte osmotic fragility of the domestic chicken was investigated. Twenty eight adult male domestic chickens of the Nera black strain were divided into four groups of seven birds per group. Birds in groups B-D were given potable water containing 1 ml, 2 ml and 4 ml/l Iodosteryl respectively for six weeks. Group A served as the control. Blood samples were collected from each bird after six weeks and analyzed immediately. No significant changes were observed in the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelet total and differential leucocytes values. However, red blood cells (RBC) were slightly lower while erythrocyte osmotic fragility and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was higher in those birds exposed to Iodosteryl compared with control. This study confirms that prolonged use of Iodosteryl is stressful and may lead to intravascular haemaolysis as indicated by the higher erythrocyte fragility and ESR values, respectively. The damage observed may be due to peroxidation of erythrocyte membrane lipids, proteins or a generation of free radicals induced by iodine.