Toxicological implications of a commercial formulation of deltamethrin (Decis®) in developing chick embryo

A deltamethrin containing insecticide formulation (Decis (R)) was evaluated for its toxic potential in developing chick embryos. For the present study, three water emulsified concentrations of Decis (R) (12.5 mg L-(1), 25 mg L-(1), and 50 mg L-(1)) were used. Fertilized eggs of Gallus domesticus were immersed in these three concentrations of the insecticide for 60 min at 37 degrees C on day 0 of incubation and kept for incubation till embryonic day 7. Recovered embryos were evaluated for teratogenic and biochemical changes. The results revealed that administration of Decis (R) at its lower concentrations (12.5 mg L-(1) and 25 mg L-(1)) did not show any significant teratological changes but the significant number of abnormal survivors was observed at 50 mg L-(1) of dose concentration when compared with vehicle-treated control. Among biochemical changes, total glycogen and RNA contents of embryos was significantly decreased at 25 mg L-(1) and 50 mg L-(1) of Decis (R) concentrations. Similarly, significant alteration (p <= .05) was observed in alanine transaminase activity at 50 mg L-(1) concentration of Decis (R). Thus, the present study concluded that the no-effect-level for developmental toxicity for Decis (R) is below the concentration of 25 mg L-(1) under standard laboratory conditions.