Hematological and biochemical changes due to short-term oral administration of imidacloprid

Subacute toxicity of repeated (28 day) oral administration of imidacloprid in male White Leghorn (WLH) chicks was assessed. One hundred and twenty-five birds were divided into five groups, with each group containing 25 birds. The birds of group C1 were given no treatment and served as control. Group C2 was administered groundnut oil (1 ml/kg) and served as control (vehicle). Group I1 was given 1/40(th) of apparent LD(50) (ALD(50)) (1.25 mg/kg), and group I2 was put on 1/30(th) of ALD(50) (1.67 mg/kg), while group I3 received 1/20(th) of ALD(50) (2.5 mg/kg) of imidacloprid suspended in groundnut oil. The blood samples were collected from birds after 14 and 28 days of oral administration and analyzed for hematological and biochemical parameters. The study showed that hematological parameters [hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC)] remained unaffected except total leukocyte count which was decreased at the highest dose tested only on 28(th) day of experiment in birds of group I3. Imidacloprid produced hypoglycemia during the entire period of study, which was dose dependent. Imidacloprid treated birds showed significant increase in serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) level at 14 and 28 days of experiment, while no significant change in serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum total protein, serum total albumin, serum total globulin and serum creatinine was seen.