Hepato renal ultrastructural pathology of experimental chlorpyriphos toxicity in chickens

Chlorpyriphos (CPF; diethyl 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothionate is a broad-spectrum organophosphorus (OP) insecticide, used extensively as effective pesticide throughout the world because of its high efficacy against pests. In veterinary practice also CPF is widely used to control mites, flies and lice affecting livestock and poultry. The present study was aimed to evaluate the acute effect of oral administration of CPF induced hepato renal pathological alterations in indigenous chicken. A total of 24 chickens were randomly segregated into two groups of 12 chickens in each group. The first group was fed with CPF @ 32mg/kg body weight as a single dose. The second group was given distilled water orally via the same route and served as control. The birds were closely observed for development of clinical signs till their death. All the treated birds died within 4 to 36 hours of dosing. Detailed post mortem examinations of the dead birds were conducted and gross lesions observed in liver and kidney were recorded. Representative tissues from liver and kidney were collected in 2.5% gluteraldehyde for ultrastructural examination. Liver and kidney tissues were also collected in saturated salt solution for quantitative detection of CPF using gas chromatography. Ultrastructural pathological alterations of liver included swollen mitochondria and dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes. Kidney revealed swelling of renal tubular epithelial cells. Pleomorphic mitochondria with loss of mitochondrial cristae were also observed in kidney. Gas chromatography study showed presence of CPF in liver and kidney tissues of CPT treated chickens. The results of the present study indicated that acute CPF intoxication in chicken produces extensive histopathological and ultrastructural alterations in the liver and kidney.