Abstract
Trichlorfon, an organophosphorus insecticide, is commonly used in different food crops, public health management, and in veterinary practice to control pests and parasites. Scanty information is available about the mechanisms of trichlorfon toxicity in target and non-target organisms. Therefore, in this study, adult male cockerels were exposed to different concentrations of trichlorfon for 45 days to evaluate its possible toxic effects. Four cockerels were randomly killed from each group at days 15, 30, and 45 for collection of blood and different visceral tissues. After different concentrations of trichlorfon treatments (16 and 20 mg/kg body weight), a dose- and time-dependent significant decrease in feed intake and body mass was recorded. The different blood parameters including red blood cells count, hemoglobin quantity, and hematocrit percent were significantly decreased in comparison with that of control cockerels. Results indicated that trichlorfon elevated the concentration of different liver function tests (ALT, AST, and ALP), kidney function tests (urea and creatinine) and cardiac biomarkers (Cholesterol, CK-Mb, and triglycerides). Results showed that trichlorfon causes higher frequency of formation of micronuclei and erythrocyte with condensed nuclei in exposed cockerels. Moreover, trichlorfon increases the percentile of DNA damage and comet tail length of isolated blood lymphocytes. Histological observation of testicular tissues of trichlorfon-treated cockerels exhibited presence of necrotic spermatids and arrest of process of spermatogenesis, while liver tissues showed congestion, pyknosis, fragmentation, and disintegration of nucleus of hepatocytes. Histopathological analysis of kidneys of trichlorfon-treated cockerels exhibited degeneration of glomeruli, necrosis of tubular epithelium and presence of necrotic epithelial cells in lumen of renal tubules. In conclusion, is reported that trichlorfon causes deleterious effects on clinico-hematological, biochemical, genotoxic, and histopathological parameters in adult cockerels.