Toxic effects of insecticides malathion and cypermethrin on hematological parameters in blood of male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to know the hematological alterations in the rabbits following oral intoxication with malathion and cypermethrin at the dose of 75 mg/Kg body weight for seven days by using gavage. Rabbits were divided into three groups A, B and C comprised of three animals each. Group A was considered as the control group and was kept as such without any intoxication. Group B was the malathion intoxicated group while C was the cypermethrin intoxicated group. Results demonstrated the negative effects of both insecticides. Malathion produced 95% increase in WBCs, 4.9% in RBCs, 3.34% in HCT, 3.2% in MCHC, while -1.1% decrease in Hb, -1.3% in MCV, -3.7% in MCH and -16.12% in PLT was also recorded. Cypermethrin caused an increase of 142% in WBCs, 17.45% in RBCs, 4.21% in MCHC, 1.24% in MCH, and 5.76% in PLT, and a decrease of -5.8% in Hb, -0.5% in MCV and -5.5% in HCT level. In conclusion both the insecticides induced alterations in hematological indices and are suggested to be neurotoxic with leukemic tendency for rabbits and other vertebrates including human.