Zabudskyi S. Morphofunctional changes in the body of domestic canaries (Serinus canaria domestica) in chronic canthaxanthin poisoning

In the dissertation work on the basis of modern morphological and biochemical researches of blood, macroscopic, microscopic, histochemical and statistical methods of researches a number of morphofunctional changes in an organism of a domestic canary at chronic poisoning by canthaxanthin is presented. Cantaxanthin poisoning in canaries is a relatively new type of pathology. It has been recorded more and more frequently since the late 90th-years of XX century, and is associated with the active use of this substance to change or enhance the color of the plumage in this species of bird. In the literature available to us, this pathology is not actually described, the literature, which mentions canthaxanthin, is usually devoted to the description of the chemical properties of this substance and its use as a supporter and enhancer of red feathers in canaries, or as a dietary supplement. Analysis of microscopic changes in the organs of animals of the experimental groups unequivocally proves the presence of toxic effects of canthaxanthin on the body of canaries, even in the recommended doses for consumption. This effect has a pronounced subacute-chronic course and is characterized by the presence of chronic inflammation in the tubular organs, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, dystrophic changes in parenchymal organs, stromal-vascular reactions in all organs in the form of interstitial inflammation, edema and dilation of blood vessels. The results of morphological and biochemical studies of blood correlate with the results of microscopic examination. Thus, with the use of canthaxanthin canaries not only in high but also in the recommended doses, in their body there is a characteristic complex of inflammatory, dystrophic and adaptive-compensatory changes, the detection of which may be crucial in the pathomorphological diagnosis of canthaxanthin toxicosis.