Impact of chlorpyrifos on health biomarkers of broiler chicks

Liver and kidney damage in quail embryos hatched from eggs sprayed once with chlorpyrifos during artificial incubation

Birds have enough conditions to be used as bioindicators for the presence of environmental contaminants. Notably, chlorpyrifos (CPF) remains extensively employed in Argentina, particularly in fruit plantations and livestock settings This study aimed to assess the potential impacts of CPF on common quail (Coturnix coturnix) embryos through external eggshell application during key embryonic stages (days 1, 4, and 14). Concentrations equivalent to those used in fruit applications, 5× and 10 × (38.4, 192, and 384 µg/egg), were employed. A 48% commercial formulation of CPF (Pirfos - Icona®) was utilized. An increase in embryonic deaths, as well as a statistical association between the degree of liver or kidney lesions and CPF concentrations was observed. The results suggest that CPF can induce embryotoxic effects with a single exposure to quail embryos and compromise the viability of the organisms. The study suggests a potential exposure risk for embryos through contact with the insecticide on the eggshell's exterior.

Feeding on grains containing pesticide residues is detrimental to offspring development through parental effects in grey partridge

Numerous toxicological studies have shown that ingestion of pesticides can induce physiological stress in breeding birds, with adverse consequences on egg laying parameters and offspring quality through parental effects. However, previous studies do not mimic current levels of pesticide residues in typical landscapes, and they do not consider potential cocktail effects of pesticides as they occur in the wild. Herein, we explored whether realistic pesticide exposure affected reproduction parameters and offspring condition through parental effects in Grey partridge. We fed 24 breeding pairs with either seeds from conventional agriculture crops treated with various pesticides during cropping, or organic grains without pesticide residues as controls. The conventional and organic grain diets mimicked food options potentially encountered by wild birds in the field. The results showed that ingesting low pesticide doses over a long period had consequences on reproduction and offspring quality without altering mortality in parents or chicks. Compared with organic pairs, conventional pairs yielded smaller chicks at hatching that had a lower body mass index at 24 days old. Additionally, these chicks displayed lower haematocrit when body mass index was higher. Therefore, ingestion of conventional grains by parents resulted in chronic exposure to pesticide residues, even at low doses, and this had detrimental consequences on offspring. These results demonstrate a sublethal effect of pesticide residues through parental effects. The consequences of parental exposure on chicks might partly explain the decline in wild Grey partridge populations, which raises questions for avian conservation and demography if current agrosystem approaches are continued.

3-Indolepropionic acid prevented chlorpyrifos-induced hepatorenal toxicities in rats by improving anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pro-apoptotic responses and abating DNA damage

The application of chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorus pesticide to control insects, is associated with oxidative stress and reduced quality of life in humans and animals. Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) is a by-product of tryptophan metabolism with high antioxidant capacity and has the potential to curb CPF-mediated toxicities in the hepatorenal system of rats. It is against this background that we explored the subacute exposure of CPF and the effect of IPA in the liver and kidney of thirty rats using five cohort experimental designs (n = 6) consisting of control (corn oil 2 mL/kg body weight), CPF alone (5 mg/kg), IPA alone (50 mg/kg), CPF + IPA₁ (5 mg/kg + 25 mg/kg), and CPF + IPA₂ (5 mg/kg + 50 mg/kg). Subsequently, we evaluated biomarkers of hepatorenal damage, oxidative and nitrosative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and apoptosis by spectrophotometric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. Our results showed that co-treatment with IPA decreased CPF-upregulated serum hepatic transaminases, creatinine, and urea; reversed CPF downregulation of SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GSH, Trx, TRx-R, and TSH; and abated CPF upregulation of XO, MPO, RONS, and LPO. Co-treatment with IPA decreased CPF-upregulated IL-1β and 8-OHdG levels, caspase-9 and caspase-3 activities, and increased IL-10. In addition, IPA averts CPF-induced histological changes in the liver and kidney of rats. Our results demonstrate that co-dosing CPF-exposed rats with IPA can significantly decrease CPF-induced oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory responses, DNA damage, and subsequent pro-apoptotic responses in rats' liver and kidneys. Therefore, supplementing tryptophan-derived endogenous IPA from exogenous sources may help avert toxicity occasioned by inadvertent exposure to harmful chemicals, including CPF-induced systemic perturbation of liver and kidney function.

Individual and combined toxicopathology of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin in broiler chickens

The present study was conducted to evaluate the individual and combined toxicopathology of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin in broiler chickens. Broiler chicks (80), day-old, were divided into four groups. Group T1 served as control, whereas Group T2 was treated with chlorpyrifos @ 50 mg/kg feed, T3 with cypermethrin @ 200 mg/kg feed and T4 with chlorpyrifos @ 50 mg/kg + cypermethrin @ 200 mg/kg feed for 4 weeks. During 5th week, the dietary treatment was withdrawn and observed for withdrawal effect. At the end of 4th and 5th week, six birds from each group were sacrificed and examined for gross and histopathological changes. Microscopically, liver showed mild to extensive granular and vacuolar changes, necrosis and lymphoid aggregation. Granular and vacuolar changes in tubular epithelium along with necrosis of tubules and detachment of tubule from the basement membrane were observed in kidneys. Heart showed varying degrees of degenerative changes in cardiac muscle fibres. Intestine showed diffuse degenerative changes along with necrosis and fusion of villi. Brain showed mild to moderate degenerative changes and neuronophagia. Sciatic nerve showed degenerative changes along with infiltration of mononuclear cell and swelling of axons. The lesions were more prominent in combined toxicity group. However, at 7th day post withdrawal, restoration towards normal parenchyma was observed in visceral organs. Ultra structure of liver at 4th week revealed pronounced pathological lesions in cell organelles. Thus it can be concluded that chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin induced adverse toxic effect individually as well as in combination.

Aerobic exercise and eugenol supplementation ameliorated liver injury induced by chlorpyrifos via modulation acetylcholinesterase activation and antioxidant defense

The primary metabolize of chlorpyrifos (CPF) is in the liver tissue, which it can cause oxidative damage and apoptosis in liver cells. The use of exercise with antioxidant supplements could have a protective effects in the liver tissue especially by improve mitochondria function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of aerobic exercise and eugenol (Eu) supplementation on destructive effects of CPF in liver tissue. Sixty-four adult male albino rats were randomly divided into eight groups (eight rats in each group). Four experimental groups received intraperitoneal injection of either 3.0 mg/kg body weight CPF in dimethyl sulfoxide for six consecutive weeks. Aerobic exercise was performed 5 days per week over 4 weeks for exercise groups. Finally, the animals were sacrificed for the histomorphometric analysis and biochemical measurement in the liver tissue. The result of this study show that consumption of CPF alone, caused collagen deposition, increased apoptosis, tumor necrosis factor α, malondialdehyde, and decreased catalase, superoxide dismutase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) compared to control and exercise groups (healthy groups) in liver tissue (P ˂ .05). Prescription of exercises and Eu supplements in CPF consumer groups, neutralized this destructive effects of CPF. However, concomitant administration of Eu with exercise had better effects on liver tissue (P ˂ .05). It seems that consumption of Eu with aerobic exercise have a protective role in tissue destruction, inflammatory damage by improving antioxidant defense and modulating AChE activity in hepatocytes.

Acute and single repeated dose effects of low concentrations of chlorpyrifos, diuron, and their combination on chicken

This study investigated the acute and single repeated dose effects of low concentrations of chlorpyrifos, diuron, and their mixture to chicken. The effects were determined as biological response (chicken behavior); physiological response (body weight, gaining weight); and biochemical response such as reduction of acetylcholine esterase activity (ACHE), changes in liver biomarkers, such as (1) alkaline phosphatase (ALP), (2) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and (3) alanine aminotransferase (ALP), and effects on kidney biomarkers such as total protein, creatinine, uric acid, and urea. Results showed abnormal behavior on chicken received 5 μg/g and above from the tested compounds. A reduction in growth weight was observed in chicken received a single repeated dose of diuron and mixture. Enlargements in the liver and heart were observed in chicken received a single repeated dose of diuron. Percentage of serum ACHE inhibition increased linearly as the concentration of the tested compounds increased. The tested low concentration showed tremendous effects on liver enzymes and kidney functions. Similarly, a single repeated dose of the tested compounds caused severe inhibition on serum ACHE and affected the liver enzyme activities and kidney functions. It can be concluded that the low concentrations are not safe and may cause severe damage to the liver, heart, or kidney and disturb the life.

Protective effects of Ziziphora tenuior extract against chlorpyrifos induced liver and lung toxicity in rat: Mechanistic approaches in subchronic study

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most widely used organophosphorus, which has spurred renewed interest. This study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of ziziphora tenuior extract against CPF-induced liver and lung toxicity. This study conducted 8-week rat sub-chronic toxicity study and then the effect of ziziphora tenuior extract in 3 different doses (40, 80, 160 mg/kg) was determined. We administrated maximum tolerated dose of CPF (6.75 mg/kg) by gavage for 8 weeks (5 times in week) to male rats. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after last dose and the biochemical analysis, which confirms involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of CPF toxicity in liver including increased in lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, and ROS formation, glutathione depletion, decreased of antioxidant effect via frap oxidation and cytochrome c expulsion. In addition, pathological lesions confirm the dysfunction of the organs (liver and lung). In addition, using of ziziphora extract as an antioxidant is resulted in amelioration of oxidative stress marker in liver and lung damage. In conclusion, the current study revealed that CPF toxicity is related to oxidative stress and induction of cell death signaling and cotreatment with ziziphora extract is recommended in the routine therapy for the protection against CPF induced liver and lung tissue damage.

Larval Exposure to Chlorpyrifos Affects Nutritional Physiology and Induces Genotoxicity in Silkworm Philosamia ricini (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Chlorpyrifos is a most widely used organophosphate insecticide because of its cost effectiveness and degradable nature. However, this pesticide enters and contaminates the environment either by direct application, spray drifts or crop run off and shows adverse effect on the non-targeted organisms. Philosamia ricini (eri silkworm), one of the most exploited, domesticated and commercialized non mulberry silkworm is known for mass production of eri silk. The silkworm larvae get exposed to pesticide residues on the leaves of food plants. The present study investigates the effect of commercial formulation of chlorpyrifos (Pyrifos-20 EC) on eri silkworm. Initially the LC50 value of chlorpyrifos was determined at 24-96 h and further experiments were carried out with sub lethal concentrations of the chlorpyrifos after 24 h of exposure period. The potential toxicity of chlorpyrifos was evaluated as a fuction of metabolism and nutritional physiology in 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar larvae. Alteration in histoarchitecture of 5th instar eri silkworm gut exposed to sub lethal concentration of chlorpyrifos formulation was also studied. Chlorpyrifos induced genotoxicity in silkworm hemocytes was also investigated by single cell gel electrophoresis, micronuclei assay, and apoptosis assay. Herein, LC50 values of chlorpyrifos were calculated as 3.83, 3.35, 2.68, and 2.35 mg/L at 24, 48, 72, and 96h respectively. A significant decrease in trehalose activity along with digestive enzyme activity was observed in chlorpyrifos affected groups (P < 0.05). Further, genotoxicity study revealed higher tail percentage, tail length and tail moment of the damage DNA in chlorpyrifos exposed groups (P < 0.001). Moreover, at 2.0 mg/L concentration, ~10 fold increases in tail length was observed as compared to the control. Results showed activation of caspase activity following 24 h chlorpyrifos exposure (1.5 and 2.0 mg/L) in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, in control group less number of apoptotic cells was detected, however in both chlorpyrifos exposed groups' numbers of apoptotic cells were statistically higher (P < 0.001). Taken together, this study provides evidence that chlorpyrifos pollution might have adverse effect on overall nutritional physiology and genotoxicity of eri silkworm that could lead to reduced survivability of this economically beneficial insect.