GENOTOXIC AND PATHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MALATHION IN MALE JAPANESE QUAIL (Coturnix japonica).

In the present study, we examined the pathological and genotoxic effects of malathion in Japanese quail. For this purpose, 105 quail were randomly divided in seven equal groups (A-G) and were orally given technical grade malathion @ 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 mg/kg/day for 51 days. Decrease in feed intake, body weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, serum testosterone and different hematological parameters such as leukocytes, erythrocytes, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration started at day 17 in birds given malathion 100 and 120 mg/kg/day. Higher frequency of blebbed nucleated erythrocytes with 50 mg/kg/day, while micronucleus and binucleated erythrocytes with 75 mg/kg/day start appearing at day 34. Grossly, regression of testicles, swollen bursa and congestion in brain tissue was observed in groups given malathion @ 100 and 120 mg/kg/day. Histologically, lesser number of germinal layers in seminiferous tubules with necrotic spermatozoa, vacuolar degeneration in bursa and Purkinje cell necrosis in brain tissues was observed. Moreover, quail given higher doses of malathion showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in blebbed and binucleated erythrocytes along with increased frequency of micronucleus. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that malathion at different doses in food chain poses mutagenesis and gonado-toxic effects in birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]