HEPATOTOXICITY INDUCED BY CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO DELTAMETHRIN, ABAMECTIN AND THEIR MIXTUREIN MALE PIGEON (Columba livia domestica)

Background and Aim: Nowadays, pesticide mixtures are largely applied in the field of agriculture, which poses serious health risks for humans and domestic animals. The present study has been carried out to investigates both the individual and the combined effects of two pesticides deltamethrin (DM) and abamectin (ABA) on hepatic function of male pigeons (Columba livia domestica).

Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted using twenty-four (24) mature male pigeons weighing 298 ± 4.15 g. They are divided into four equal groups as follows, the control group, group DE: treated with deltamethrin (DM) (40 mg/kg), group AB: treated with abamectin (ABA) (20 mg/kg), group DE+AB: treated with mixture of the two doses of deltamethrin and abamectin (40+ 20 mg/kg) respectively. All groups were treated by oral gavage for 12 weeks.

Results: Biochemical results show a significant increase of the hepatic transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and glucose levels, with a remarkable decrease in albumin concentration in all of the treated groups. However, the joint action of the pesticides mixture revealed an antagonist effect on all tested biochemical parameters. Thus, the histopathological profile of liver demonstrated a severe injury of all treated groups.

Conclusion: The individual and the combined exposure of pigeons to deltamethrin and abamectin caused different functional and structural alterations of liver, with antagonist interaction between the combined doses.