Haemato-biochemical and immuno-pathophysiological effects of chronic toxicity with synthetic pyrethroid, organophosphate and chlorinated pesticides in broiler chicks

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Abstract

Haemato- biochemical and immuno-pathophysiological changes following feeding of broiler chicks with 20 ppm fenvalerate (synthetic pyrethroid, SP), 2 ppm monocrotophos (organophosphate, OP) and 2 ppm endosulfan (chlorinated hydrocarbon, CH) were studied. Four groups of broiler birds (30 each) were fed poultry mash without (control) or mixed with pesticides for 8 weeks. Blood glucose, serum globulin and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity level were decreased (P<0.01) in all treated groups compared to control, but not the serum albumin and BUN. The total ATPase activity was enhanced (P<0.01) in fenvalerate and monocrotophos than birds in control group. Body weight, total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, eosinophil and monocyte count did not show any changes. Total leucocytes and T-lymphocyte count was lower (P<0.01) in all treated groups as compared to control group. B-cell count (P<0.01), mean 2-4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) dermal sensitivity score and splenic indices from graft vs. host reaction (P<0.05) were decreased in fenvalarate and endosulfan but the values for monocrotophos were intermediate between control and other treated groups. Pesticide intoxication reduced nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) positive cells (active splenic macrophages) (P<0.05) and spleen weight (P<0.01). Whereas bursal weight was reduced only with endosulfan, thymic weight was reduced on endosulfan and fenvalerate-treated feed. Microscopic examination of these organs further revealed atrophy/hypoplasia, decrease in the size of follicles with depletion of lymphocytes and haemorrhages in thymus. The study concludes that the chronic exposure of chicks to small amount of SP, OP and CH pesticide leads to deleterious effects on metabolism and immune system of birds.

Introduction

Pesticides remain for various reasons the main tool for combating disease vectors and pests in many countries in agricultural, animal husbandry and public health operations. Currently 400 members of three groups of pesticides (chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds, CHC; organophosphates, OP, and synthetic pyrethroids, SP), which work by different mechanism, are being used in India [1]. The use of CHC, OP and SP constitutes 40%, 30% and 30%, respectively. The first generation pesticide chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds were the earliest arrival during World War II. Since then many pesticides of this group such as aldrin, dieldrin, lindane, isodrin, heptachlor and endosulfan have been introduced which are essentially stomach poisons for insects and pests. The second generation pesticides, organophosphates are capable of killing insects, pests and ectoparasites by systemic poisoning and some of the important members of this group are malathion, monocrotophos, parathion, quinalphos, dichlorovos, fenthion, fenchlorophos, phoxim, abate and haloxon. The organophosphates are more quickly eliminated from the system than chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides and possess greater pesticidal potency. The third generation pesticides in the process of their early introduction to agricultural fields had a setback because natural pyrethrum obtained from flower heads of Chrysanthemum cincrariaefolium was more toxic to mammalian species. The invention of synthetic pyrethroid in recent years has broadened the spectrum of pyrethrum as a popular insecticide. Its insecticide property is mainly due to rapid knockdown action of flying insects with a very low mammalian toxicity, due to its quick metabolism in mammals to nontoxic products [2], [3]. Because of restricted use of CHCs, the application of SP pesticides is expected to increase.

Chickens are prone to pesticide toxicity because poultry houses and birds are dusted with pesticides. The sweepings and screenings from government depots, which are sold as poultry feed, after being declared as unfit for human consumption, may be contaminated with pesticides [4]. Exposure of poultry to pesticides causes health hazards and economic losses, while also posing a potential threat to public health due to the presence of pesticide residues in poultry meat. There are ample of evidences to suggest that the use of pesticides in crops, in storehouses, in poultry houses and livestock body leaves behind its residue causing interference with some of the fundamental biological processes [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]. There are many facts of pesticides toxicity, which are still unexplored and need systematic investigation to protect environmental health. The immune system is both target and mediator of environment-induced injury. Acute toxicities of pesticides are well documented, but little attention has been given to the chronic low dose effects of pesticides, especially as environmental pollutants. Chronic immunotoxic exposures to chemical stressors, which cause direct damage to the immune system, can result in suppression of immune responses and decreased resistance to infections and malignancies, poor response to antibiotics and vaccination failures.

The effect of CH, OP and SP compounds on the mammalian and avian immune system has been studied to some extent [1], [10], [11], [12]. However, reports are inconsistent and also investigations using at least a representative pesticide from each of these categories in one single study are lacking. Although the mechanism of action of these pesticides differs, in a parallel study [9], we have reported that these pesticides produce more or less similar effect on bone histology of broiler birds. Here we describe in detail the biochemical and immuno-pathophysiological lesions due to chronic toxicity of the same pesticides upon the blood biochemical constituents and immune systems in broiler birds using representative compounds of each class.

Section snippets

Experimental chicks, grouping and management

A total of 120 Babcock BV 300 broiler chicks were randomly and equally distributed into four equal groups with 30 chicks in each group. All the chicks were weighed on the first day of their makings. Thereafter body weight was recorded at fortnightly interval. The control group did not received any pesticide, whereas second group was given fenvelarate (synthetic pyrethroid compound) at 20 ppm in the feed. On the other hand, third and fourth group were given monocrotophos (organophosphate

Body weight and blood biochemistry

Data pertaining to impact of different pesticides upon body weight and blood biochemical constituents of broiler chicks are summarized in Table 1. The final body weight (g) at the end of experiment in control and treated groups did not differ significantly. Hyperglycemia (P<0.01) was recorded in all three varieties of pesticide-intoxicated chickens. Serum albumin levels were in pesticide-treated groups did not differ from those found in control birds. However, blood urea nitrogen remained

Discussion

The study revealed that chronic toxicity leads to deleterious effect on immunophysiology and also bone health [9] despite the healthy appearance of birds, with no changes in body weight. As the doses used were well below lethal levels, it is unlikely to expect changes on body weight. No change in body weight under the impact of malathion toxicity has been reported [8]. Similarly, even with feeding up to 600 ppm cypermethrin for 28 days, Neskovic [38] reported no effect on body weight in

Acknowledgement

Senior author is thankful to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi for giving financial support in the form of Senior Research Fellowship to carry out the work. Authors are thankful to Dr. M. Renee Prater, DVM, PhD Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine for critical reading of the manuscript and helpful suggestions.

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