Study on Toxic Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Imidacloprid Exposure in Chick Embryos

The discovery of neonicotinoids as important novel insecticides represents a milestone in insecticide research over the past three decades. The neonicotinoids represent the fastest-growing class of insecticides. Imidacloprid is one of the major representatives of the new generation of neonicotinoid insecticides derived from nicotine isolated from the tobacco plant. Worldwide, it is considered to be one of the insecticides used in the largest volume. The objective of current study is to observe the toxic and teratogenic effects of neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid exposure in chick embryos. The current study was carried out on 400 fertile eggs of white leghorn chicken obtained from government poultry farm after taking permission from animal ethical committee. Chicken eggs exposed to Imidacloprid with doses of 2.5μg, 5μg, 10μg and 20μg in a volume of 2.5μl, 5μl, 10μl and 20μl respectively and control same as test group. The embryos were terminated on 21st day, eggs shell broken with a scalpel and embryos removed. The toxic and teratogenic effects observed and recorded. The results show that experimental group had comparatively more cases of teratogenic and embryonic effects; growth retardation resulting into failure of retraction of yolk sac, limbs defects, head enlargement, ectopia viscerale and decrease weight of chick, crown rump length as compared to controls. Imidacloprid exposure increases the risks of teratogenic effects with increasing embryonic age. Comparatively higher doses proved more toxic and also caused many embryonic and teratogenic effects.