Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology

Acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide has been in use globally for a number of years in agriculture and veterinary medicine. The objective of the present study was to evaluate immunotoxic effects of acetamiprid following subacute exposure in male Swiss albino mice. Acetamiprid was administered i.p. daily at 4.6 and 2.3 mg/kg/day along with 3% gum acacia as negative control for 30 days. Specific parameters of humoral and cellular immune response including hemagglutinating antibody (HA) titer to sheep red blood cells (SRBC; T-dependent antigen) and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to SRBC was evaluated. The result showed that acetamiprid suppressed both humoral and cell mediated immune response as evident from decreased in HA titer and decreased in DTH response. Significant decrease in HA titer was observed at 4.6 and 2.3 mg/kg/day from control group. Significant decrease in DTH response was only observed at 4.6 mg/kg b.wt. both in 24 hours and 48 hours later. The results indicated that acetamiprid has immunosuppressive effects at both dose levels which could potentially be attributed to direct cytotoxic effects of acetamiprid against T cells and that long term exposure could be detrimental to the immune system.