Electrolyte, Metabolites And Enzyme Activities In Muscle And Blood Of New Zealand Rabbit Due To Exposure To The Pesticide Dichlorvos (DDVP)

Abstract

This study assessed the biochemical, electrolyte, and enzyme parameters in muscles and blood of New Zealand rabbits following oral exposure to varying concentrations (0.00–0.03 mg/l) of Dichlorvos (DDVP). This was done to simulate the possible effect of pesticides on ruminant animals including rabbits. Result from the study indicate that muscle sodium increased from 60.67 ± 0.88 mg/L to 63.33 ± 0.88 mg/L at 0.02 mg/L, before declining to 58.33 ± 2.84 mg/L compared to the control. Potassium decreased from 5.33 ± 0.88 to 3.00 ± 0.58 mg/L. Calcium dropped from 2.77 ± 0.27 to 2.20 ± 0.17 mg/L. ALT rose from 36.67 ± 2.33 to 47.00 ± 1.53 U/L. AST decreased slightly, while creatinine dropped from 0.70 ± 0.06 to 0.47 ± 0.06 mg/L. Magnesium declined from 1.23 ± 0.06 to 1.07 ± 0.12 mg/L, ALP from 78.67 ± 6.74 to 67.00 ± 3.06 U/L, T.P from 6.00 ± 0.17 to 5.13 ± 0.12 mg/L, and ALB from 3.37 ± 0.03 to 2.90 ± 0.06mg/L. Blood parameters showed minimal variation: sodium (~141 mg/L), potassium (~5 mg/L), chloride (~98 mg/L), calcium (~8.5 mg/L), ALT (~40 U/L), and AST (~35 U/L) remained insignificantly different from the control group . These findings suggest DDVP exposure disrupts electrolyte homeostasis and enzyme activities moderately in muscle and insignificantly in blood indicating organ-specific vulnerability to DDVP toxicity compared to the control. Therefore, the use of Dichlorvos in open spaces and fields should be done with utmost care and restraint.