author(s)
RS Ingole, MV Joshi, SW Hajare, MV Ingawale and SV Kuralkar

abstract
The present investigation was carried out on 48 male adult Wistar rats divided into four equal groups. Group I served as control whereas group II, III, and IV rats were given adlib drinking saline water (TDS- 5600 ppm), 50% diluted saline water and 25% diluted saline water of 5600 TDS, respectively for 90 days with adlib commercial feed. Group II and III showed clinical symptoms of varying degrees of pasty feces, rough fur coat, itching, depression and poor general conditions. There was a significant increase in moisture percent of litter material in different groups suggesting increased urination in group III rats due to increased water consumption. Water consumption in different groups differs significantly and indicated increase consumption directly proportional to TDS for the sake of excretion of excess salts from the body. Average weekly body weight gain showed numerical decrease in group II followed by group III and group IV suggesting dose dependant decrease in weight gain. It is thus concluded that water salinity causes a dose dependant adverse effect on digestive system leads to lower body weight gain. However, 25 % dilution of saline water having TDS 5600 ppm showed minimal adverse effect on general performance.