INDUCED TOXIC EFFECTS OF CHLORPYRIFOS ON HEMATOLOGICAL INDICES IN PIGEONS (COLUMBA LIVIA DOMESTICA)

Abstract

Agrochemicals are used extensively in agriculture sector across the world; however, they may be eco-toxicological hazards and disrupt the non-target living beings, including birds. Hence, the present study was carried out to evaluate the toxic effects of chlorpyrifos (CPF) insecticide on hematological parameters in pigeons. A total of 120 adult pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were used in the study and kept in wooden cages, and all pigeons received the same quantity of (22%) crude protein and water during trials. Pigeons were acclimatized for 15 days and divided into four equal (A, B, C and D) groups, each consisting of 30 birds. Test groups (B-D) were exposed to CPF with oral doses of “1.3 mg, 1.6 mg, and 2.1 mg/kg body weight/day” respectively for twelve successive weeks, whereas (group A) was assigned as a controlled group. At the end of the trials, blood samples from exposed and controlled group birds were obtained from brachial and collected with anticoagulant “K3-EDTA” vacutainer tubes for hematological assessments. Following the 84-day exposure period, notable statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduced levels of hemoglobin (Hb) (13.85 g/dl), (12.2 g/dl) and (10.50 g/dl) respectively, in birds of groups B, C and D and significant (p < 0.05) reduced level of total erythrocytes count (TEC) and packed cell volume (PCV%) was noted when compared with the control. There was a substantial significant (p < 0.05) increase in total leucocyte count (TLC) and total platelet count observed in comparison to the birds of the control group. The results of the present study revealed that alterations in hematological indices exhibited by chlorpyrifos insecticide. This research demonstrated how the indiscriminate use of pesticides damages health and developmental problems in bird ecosystems, and eventually, humans may be in danger for their health problems