CHANGES IN BLOOD ENZYME ACTIVITIES AFTER EXPERIMENTAL ACUTE INTOXICATION OF QUAILS (COTURNIX COTURNIX) WITH THE CARBAMATE INSECTICIDE CARBOFURAN.

Carbamate anticholinesterase pesticides are widely used for plant protection. Their common application together with the high toxicity, are responsible for the increasing number of intoxication accidents with wild animals (mammals and birds). The present experiment aimed to determine the changes occurring in blood enzyme activities of quails after experimental acute intoxication with the carbamate insecticide carbofuran (Carbosan 35 СТ). Quails were divided into 5 groups: one control and 4 experimental. They were treated by increasing single doses of the tested pesticide: 1.05 mg/kg (experimental group I), 2.1 mg/kg (experimental group II), 5.25 mg/kg (experimental group III) and 10.5 mg/kg (experimental group IV), corresponding to 1/10 LD50, 1/5 LD50, 1/2 LD50 and LD50 - oral doses for albino rats, respectively. Prior to the treatment (hours –48, –24 and 0) and 1, 3, 5, 7, 24 and 48 hours thereafter, blood was sampled from v. subcutanea ulnaris for analysis of activities of serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), creatine kinase (СК) and gamma glutamyltransferase (É£-GT). The tested carbamate insecticide caused reduction in AChE activities, along with increased ASAT, ALAT, AP and СК concentrations. There were no changes in É£-GT concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]