286
C. R. Krishna Murti and T. S. S. Dikshith
of a sodium ion concentration of 1 ppm (Bhattacharya et 01., 1975; Kumar and
Bhattacharya, 1977). During a study on the uptake and metabolism of DDT in
Gambusia affinis, two metabolites of DDT, namely, p,p' -DOE and p,p' -DDT,
were detected (Pillai et 01., 1977) and DOE was the major metabolite. Unlike
chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, very little accumulation of organophosphorus insecticides occurs in tissues (Verma and Gupta, 1976). Effects of these
insecticides on the metabolic fate and activities of various lysosomal enzymes
in different tissues have also been studied (Srivastava et 01., 1977; Mukhopadhyay et 01., 1977). Several deformities were observed in fertilized eggs of C.
carpiocommunis exposed to different concentrations of diazinon, malathion,
fenitrothion, and phosphamidon (Kaur and Toor, 1977). Parathion was reported
to be highly toxic and dimethoate least toxic to fish. Sumithion (fenitrothion)
inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the nervous and nonnervous
tissues of the fish. The insecticide inhibited the activity of succinic dehydrogenase
and tissue respiration, but lactic dehydrogenase was raised, suggesting the operation of an anaerobic glycolytic pathway (Koundinya and Ramamurthi, 1978a,b).
The activity of GDH, GPT, GOT, and total ninhydrin positive substance (TNPS)
in different tissues of fish was increased by sumithion. GDH has been linked
with increased oxidation of glutamate. The rise of TNPS suggested protein
catabolism and increased synthesis of amino acids in the insecticide-treated fish.
A rise in blood glucose level supported the observation (Koundinya and Ramamurthi, 1979a,b, 1980).
10.9.2. Toxicity to Wildlife
Poultry are often exposed to a variety of pesticides either by ingestion of
contaminated feed or through pesticide in henhouses. Pesticides are lethal to
poUltry if ingested in high concentrations. However, the lethal dose of a pesticide
is governed by the species of the bird and the nature of the compound. Contamination of poUltry with nonlethal levels may impair one or more of a number of
production characteristics such as growth, egg production, egg size, shell thickness, fertility, and hatchability.
Toxicological studies carried out on poUltry with a few organophosphorus
and chlorinated pesticides in India are of interest while considering the action
of biodegradable pesticides. Thiometon, when sprayed aerially for the protection
of crops, did not induce any toxic effects in poUltry (Ranade et 01., 1978).
Residues of rabon, an organophosphorus insecticide, were found in the fat of a
treated hen (Yadav and Shaw, 1970). In the egg yolk, residues appeared 2 days
after initiation of treatment and disappeared 5 days after the last treatment.
Fenitrothion was found to be more toxic than malathion to chick embryos (Paul
and Vadamudi, 1976). The effect of fenitrothion on the growth rate was correlated
with the growth-promoting endocrine gland. The reduced utilization of several
C. R. Krishna Murti and T. S. S. Dikshith
of a sodium ion concentration of 1 ppm (Bhattacharya et 01., 1975; Kumar and
Bhattacharya, 1977). During a study on the uptake and metabolism of DDT in
Gambusia affinis, two metabolites of DDT, namely, p,p' -DOE and p,p' -DDT,
were detected (Pillai et 01., 1977) and DOE was the major metabolite. Unlike
chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, very little accumulation of organophosphorus insecticides occurs in tissues (Verma and Gupta, 1976). Effects of these
insecticides on the metabolic fate and activities of various lysosomal enzymes
in different tissues have also been studied (Srivastava et 01., 1977; Mukhopadhyay et 01., 1977). Several deformities were observed in fertilized eggs of C.
carpiocommunis exposed to different concentrations of diazinon, malathion,
fenitrothion, and phosphamidon (Kaur and Toor, 1977). Parathion was reported
to be highly toxic and dimethoate least toxic to fish. Sumithion (fenitrothion)
inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the nervous and nonnervous
tissues of the fish. The insecticide inhibited the activity of succinic dehydrogenase
and tissue respiration, but lactic dehydrogenase was raised, suggesting the operation of an anaerobic glycolytic pathway (Koundinya and Ramamurthi, 1978a,b).
The activity of GDH, GPT, GOT, and total ninhydrin positive substance (TNPS)
in different tissues of fish was increased by sumithion. GDH has been linked
with increased oxidation of glutamate. The rise of TNPS suggested protein
catabolism and increased synthesis of amino acids in the insecticide-treated fish.
A rise in blood glucose level supported the observation (Koundinya and Ramamurthi, 1979a,b, 1980).
10.9.2. Toxicity to Wildlife
Poultry are often exposed to a variety of pesticides either by ingestion of
contaminated feed or through pesticide in henhouses. Pesticides are lethal to
poUltry if ingested in high concentrations. However, the lethal dose of a pesticide
is governed by the species of the bird and the nature of the compound. Contamination of poUltry with nonlethal levels may impair one or more of a number of
production characteristics such as growth, egg production, egg size, shell thickness, fertility, and hatchability.
Toxicological studies carried out on poUltry with a few organophosphorus
and chlorinated pesticides in India are of interest while considering the action
of biodegradable pesticides. Thiometon, when sprayed aerially for the protection
of crops, did not induce any toxic effects in poUltry (Ranade et 01., 1978).
Residues of rabon, an organophosphorus insecticide, were found in the fat of a
treated hen (Yadav and Shaw, 1970). In the egg yolk, residues appeared 2 days
after initiation of treatment and disappeared 5 days after the last treatment.
Fenitrothion was found to be more toxic than malathion to chick embryos (Paul
and Vadamudi, 1976). The effect of fenitrothion on the growth rate was correlated
with the growth-promoting endocrine gland. The reduced utilization of several