Abstract
The pesticides tend to become concentrated as they move up the food chain. They accumulate in organism body (target and non-target organisms) which contained them. The pesticides don't kill the individual birds often, but do affect their bodies so that they lay eggs with very thin shells often these thin-shelled eggs break or the birds are unable to reproduce. Pesticides also affect bird's physiological functions. Natural conservation committee and the Royal Society for bird protection suggested that indirect effect of pesticides was a major cause of decline birds species. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of subchronic oral dosage of propoxur (1/10 LD50) on serum biochemical parameters. The bird employed in the present study is the rock pigeon (Columba livia domestica), weighing between 320-380g. Birds were classified into four groups, each consists of 5 animals as follows: 1-Control group, this group, non-treated pigeons, were not subjected to oral administration of the insecticide. 2-Three doses group, pigeons in this group treated with a repeated oral dose (1/10 LD50) of propoxur for three consecutive doses. 3-Six doses group, pigeons in this group treated with a repeated oral dose (1/10 LD50) of propoxur for six consecutive doses. 4 - Nine doses group, Pigeons in this group treated with a repeated oral dose (1/10 LD50) of propoxur for nine consecutive doses. (Two-days interval between each two consecutive doses in treated groups) and birds were sacrificed after 24 hours after the last dose. Results of this study, showed significant increase in liver enzymes (ALT and AST), blood glucose, blood urea, serum uric acid, cholesterol, and triglycerides in intoxicated groups with propoxur as compared to control pigeons group.