Teratogenic Effects of Thiamethoxam (a Neonicotinoid) on Development of
Chick Embryo
Muhammad Awais Zahoor1, Shafia Tehseen
Gul1* Aisha Khatoon1, Muhammad Ashraf2,
Muhammad Zubair3, Muhammad Imran1, Bakhtawar
Maqbool2 and Farhan Ahmad Atif4
1Department
of Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan
2Institute of
Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan
3Department of
Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of veterinary sciences,
University of Poonch-Rawalakot, Pakistan
4Department of Clinical
Sciences, College of veterinary and Animal sciences, Jhang-Pakistan *Corresponding author: dr.shafia.gul@uaf.edu.pk;
drshafia66@yahoo.com
Abstract
The
main purpose of this research project was to investigate the teratogenic effects
of the thiamethoxam (TMX) on the development of chick embryo. A total of 100
fertilized eggs (72 hours old) of commercial broiler (Ross) were obtained and
equally divided into five groups (A to E). The group A and B were kept as
negative control and sham control, respectively. The experimental groups were
administered with increasing concentrations of thiamethoxam at a dose rate of
50μg, 100μg, and 150μg each diluted in 20μl distilled water. The sham
group was treated with 20μl of normal saline.
After that, the eggs were incubated under standard conditions. The eggs were
opened on day 20th for the evaluation of any gross anomalies and
musculoskeletal deformations. The mortality rate increased gradually with the
dosage of TMX. The results showed significant growth retardment in the treated
chicken embryos which were further endorsed by lower body weight and reduced
crown-rump length. Furthermore, the observed teratogenic effects were deformed
head (exencephaly), beak agnathia, anophthalmia, scantiness of feathers, limb
deformities, and failed retraction of the yolk sac. Gross and histopathological
analysis of vital organs showed remarkable alterations as compared to the
control group. It has been concluded that
chick embryos exposed to TMX in early embryonic
stages showed results in growth retardation at lower dosage, while at higher
dosage marked teratogenic and histopathological effects have been recorded in
liver.
To Cite This Article:
Zahoor MA, Gul ST, Khatoon A, Ashraf M, Zubair M,
Imran M, Maqbool B and Atif FA, 2022. Teratogenic effects of thiamethoxam (a
neonicotinoid) on development of chick embryo. Pak Vet J, 42(2): 179-184.
http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2022.033