Bifenthrin induced toxic effects on haematological, reproductive and histomorphological profile in adult male quail (Coturnix japonica)

Currently terrestrial ecologies are polluted by numerous chemical compounds unceasingly leading to high risk of exposure to variety of life. Among these, bifenthrin is widely used for the control of different sucking and chewing insects and other leaf miner insects around the globe. The current study elaborated the toxic effects of oral administration of bifenthrin in male Japanese quails at sub-lethal (less than 1% mortality) concentrations (10mg/kg, 20mg/kg and 30mg/kg b.w.) during a period of 30 days. During the course of the study, the quails did not show any behavioural or clinical signs. However, a significantly (p<0.05) decreased RBCs and platelets counts and haemoglobin concentration while a significantly (p<0.05) increased MCV, MCHC, total leucocytes and neutrophils were observed in the birds administered with higher concentrations of bifenthrin. Moreover, the incidence of lobed nuclei, blebbed nuclei, condensed nuclei, notched nuclei, binuclear, pear shaped and micro-nuclei were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the erythrocytes of the groups C and D during the experiment. The diameter of seminiferous tubules, height of germinal epithelium and the number of seminiferous tubules containing normal spermatozoa were significantly (p<0.01) decreased while the number of pyknotic cells and degenerated seminiferous tubules were increased significantly (p<0.05) towards the end of the experiment (day-30) in the quails of groups C and D compared to the control group. Hence, the alterations in the hematological indices and histopathological changes in heart, spleen and testes indicate potential toxicity of bifenthrin and its adverse effects in the Japanese quail even at sub-lethal concentrations.