Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Thiacloprid, a novel neonicotinoid insecticide is chiefly used as a crop protectant therefore it is likely to cause indirect exposure to poultry through contaminated feed and water because this species is occasionally supplied with feed that is, declared unfit for human consumption. The current study was performed to explore the nonlethal toxic effects of thiacloprid in Gallus domesticus on hematological parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two birds were randomly divided into nine groups. Groups I to IV of four birds each were kept as healthy control. The Groups V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X contained six birds each and were administered thiacloprid at 1 mg/kg/day for 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 days, respectively. RESULTS: Thiacloprid caused variable changes in the hematological parameters. There was a significant decline in the packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and total erythrocyte count (TEC). The PCV declined to the extent of 23.33 ± 0.76% on day 90 from the 0 day value of 29.75 ± 1.26% of experiment. The Hb concentration decreased from 9.93 ± 0.57 g/dl (0 day) to 7.52 ± 0.62 g/dl (90 days). The TEC declined from the 0 day value of 2.41 ± 0.08 × 10(6)/mm(3) to 90 days value of 2.08 ± 0.05 × 10(6)/mm(3). The total leukocyte count on 0 day was 12.50 ± 0.76 × 10(3)/mm(3) and it showed a significant increase from day 45 (17.80 ± 2.67 × 10(3)/mm(3)) to day 90 (21.33 ± 1.48 × 10(3)/mm(3)) of thiacloprid treatment. There was a significant rise in value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate to 19.25 ± 1.22 mm/24 h on day 90 of treatment from the 14.42 ± 1.09 mm/24 h on 0 day. The long-term oral administration of thiacloprid produced no significant alterations in the values of erythrocytic indices. CONCLUSIONS: The repeated oral toxicity on thiacloprid in present investigation suggested that it has an adverse effect on health of birds and is moderately risk insecticide in G. domesticus.