COMPARATIVE PROPHYLACTIC AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF ATROPINE SULPHATE INJECTION ON ACUTE TOXICITY OF ORGANOPHOSPHATE ACARICIDE IN ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Tick infestations adversely affect livestock production and wellbeing of companion animals. The acute toxic effects of organophosphate were evaluated in 25 albino rats which were grouped into 5 rats each. Group 1 served as negative control and received 48 mg/kg dose of Diazinon, ® orally. Groups 2 and 3 received same dose of Diazinon®, but they were post-treated at 10 and 20 minutes interval with Atropine®, injected subcutaneously at the dose of 10mg/kg body weight. Groups 4 and 5 were pretreated with Atropine®, 10mg/kg, at 10 and 20 minutes intervals prior to oral Diazinon® administration, respectively. Clinical signs were monitored while the liver, heart and lungs were collected from dead rats (group 1) for histopathological studies. The results showed 100% nervous signs and mortality in groups 1 and 3. The nervous signs reduced by 60% in groups 2, 5 and by 100% in group 4, whereas 100% recovery was recorded in all rats pre-treated with atropine sulphate (Atropine®). Microscopically, there was severe hepatocellular necrosis, severe thickening of the interalveolar connective tissue with infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells and severe myocardial necrosis. It was concluded that pre-treatment with atropine sulphate is extremely important prior to dog wash with organophosphate acaricides