EFFECT OF IRAQI SWEET ALMOND (Prunus amygdalus) ON SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN ROCK DOVE PIGEONS (Columba livia gaddi) TREATED WITH LEAD ACETATE

Abstract

The current study aims to evaluate the effect of Iraqi sweet almond (Prunusamygdalus) on the toxicity of lead acetate in wild pigeons Rock Doves (Columba liviagaddi) on body weight and certain hematological and biochemical parameters. Fortyhealthy adults of both sexes Rock Dove pigeons were randomly selected andcategorized into four groups, A,B,C, and D. Group A (control group), were fed on abalanced ration, group B, were administered lead acetate 72 mg/kg body weightorally, group C orally administered with an aqueous extract of Iraqi sweet almond(Prunus amygdalus) 300 mg/kg body weight, and group D were orally administeredwith 72 mg/kg body weight of lead acetate and 300 mg/kg body weight of theaqueous extract of Iraqi sweet almond (Prunus amygdalus). These materials wereadministered daily and for the whole study period which extended to 28 days. Resultsshowed that lead acetate alone caused significant decrease (P≤ 0.05) in the bodyweight, hemoglobin concentration, total erythrocyte count, PCV% and triglycerides,while there were a significant increase (P≤ 0.05) in total leukocyte count, heterophils,monocytes, lymphocytes, glucose, uric acid, and AST and ALT activities. On theother hand, combined treatment with Iraqi sweet almond and lead acetate to membersof group (D) caused significant increase (P≤ 0.05) in hemoglobin, total erythrocytecount, PCV% and lymphocytes, and significant decrease (P≤ 0.05) in cholesterol anduric acid, while no significant differences in triglyceride and AST and ALT activities.The present finding concludes that adding of Iraqi sweet almond has significant