Histological alterations in the internal organs of growing chicks from feeding raw jackbean or limabean seeds.

The effect of raw jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) or limabean (Phaseolus lunatus) seeds at 0, 250 or 500 g/kg in broiler chick diets for 28 d on performance and cytopathological changes in internal organs was evaluated. Relative pancreas weight increased significantly (P < 0.05) and the lungs had severe atelectasis, thickening of the alveolar septa and bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia. Slight hemorrhages were in the intestinal walls of growing chicks fed 250 g/kg or 500 g/kg of jackbean and limabean, respectively. The livers had marked congestion of the sinusoids and centrolobular veins, while the kidneys had distension of the capillary vessels with numerous thrombi. The structural alterations in the internal organs of chicks fed the plant seeds were attributed to allelochemicals in the seeds.