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Simranjit Kaur ¹, Kuldeep Singh Khera ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, LUDHIANA (PUNJAB), IN
2 Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, LUDHIANA (PUNJAB), IN

Abstract

Use of pesticides, in modern agriculture has increased tremendously. Pesticides affect the human, environment and wildlife including birds. Three main groups of chemical synthetic pesticides are organochlorine, organophosphate and carbamate. Because of persistent nature, organochlorine are no longer in use in several countries. But some of them like aldrin, dieldrin, lindane and endosulfan are still in use in developing countries. They cause widespread population decline of raptorial birds like the peregrine falcon, the sparrow hawk and bald eagle. The well known effect of DDT in eggshell thinning of the peregrine falcon is caused by its highly persistent metabolite DDE [1,1, bis-4-chlorphenyl]-2,2 dichlorethylene]. Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides do not bioaccumulate in the food chains and are less persistent. They have replaced the more persistent organochlorines. This communication elaborates the effect of synthetic chemical pesticides on birds along with a note on policy framework on use of pesticides.

Keywords

Birds, Organochlorines, Acute and Sub Lethal Effects.

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Prerna Vohra ¹, Kuldeep Singh Khera ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, IN

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the dose-dependent toxic effects of imidacloprid on the female rats that were treated through three generations (F0, F1, and F2). F2 female rats were sacrificed at the end of the experiment to see the long-term effect of imidacloprid. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into three groups of 6 each. Group I served as control. Group II served as treated I and given 1/45^th LD₅₀ (10 mg/kg/day) of imidacloprid. Group III served as treated II and given 1/22^th LD₅₀ (20 mg/kg/day) of imidacloprid. After 60 days, oral administration of imidacloprid females were mated with normal males to get F1 and F2 generation. F2 generation female rats were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. Biochemical and a histopathological investigation was done for three groups of F2 generation and statistically analyzed by ANOVA. Results: Average feed intake of F2 female rats was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) at 20 mg/kg/day dose of imidacloprid. There was a significant increase in the activity of alanine aminotransferase, AKP, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Group III rats of F2 generation. There was a significant decrease in acetylcholine esterase activity in plasma and brain of both the imidacloprid treated groups. Tissue samples of liver, kidney, and brain of females of F2 generation showed histopathological condition. Conclusion: The results indicated that imidacloprid at a dose of 20 mg/kg bw/day exerts significant toxicological effects on biochemical and histological studies of F2 generation females as compare to 10 mg/kg bw/day.

Keywords

Biochemical Analysis, Histopathology, Imidacloprid, Wistar Albino Rat.

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