Endosulfan (Thiodan® EC 35) induced toxico-pathological effects in male Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

The objective of the present study was to determine the toxico-pathological effects of endosulfan in Japanese quails. Male Japanese quails (n=120) of 4 weeks of age were administered endosulfan in feed at 0 (control), 5, 25, 50, 100, and 500 mg/kg feed, respectively for 90 consecutive days. The quails of the 5 mg/kg group did not show clinical signs and had significantly lower values of feed intake, testes relative weight and leukocyte number than those of the control group. The quails of the 25 and 50 mg/kg groups had mild depression while those of the 100 and 500 mg/kg groups showed nervous excitation following ingestion of endosulfan. There was a dose related delay in onset of crowing, appearance of foamy material in the droppings and mounting upon the pen mates. The feed intake, body weight, erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, haematocrit values, and serum total proteins of endosulfan fed quails were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that of the control group. Serum testosterone levels did not change significantly in all the treatment groups. The liver of endosulfan fed birds exhibited fatty change of hepatocytes and necrotic foci in parenchyma. Testes of the endosulfan fed quails had lower weight, volume and diameter of seminiferous tubules compared with control birds. Degenerated spermatids and multinucleated cells were present in the germinal epithelium. Severity of haematological, biochemical and pathological alterations in quails increased with the increase in dietary endosulfan levels. In conclusion, endosulfan in Japanese quails had toxic effects upon liver, nervous, haemopoietic and reproductive system. Moreover, feed intake and body weight also decreased significantly suggesting general toxicity of endosulfan.