Pathological and histochemical alterations of acute chlorpyriphos intoxication in indigenous chicken

Chlorpyriphos (CPF; diethyl 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothionate) is a broad-spectrum organophosphorus (OP) insecticide used extensively in agriculture throughout the world because of its high efficacy against pests. In veterinary practice CPF is widely used for the control of pests, mites, flies and lice affecting livestock and poultry. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of oral (p.o.) administration of CPF induced pathological alterations in indigenous chicken. The birds were divided into two major groups -Group I and Group II which served as control and treated with CPF (32 mg/kg) respectively. Detailed post mortem examinations of the dead birds were conducted and representative tissues were collected for histopathological examination. Microscopically, liver tissue of CPF intoxicated chickens showed degeneration, necrosis, congestion, hemorrhages, dilatation of sinusoids and mild fatty changes. The kidneys showed hemorrhages, vacuolar degeneration of tubular epithelia and focal coagulative necrosis. Brain showed satellitosis, neuronophagia and degeneration of Purkinje cells. The results indicated that acute CPF intoxication produces histopathological and ultrastructural changes of the treated birds.