DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i01.0014

Pages: 67-72

Imidacloprid is one of the most commonly used insecticides worldwide belonging to the family of neonicotinoids and relatively new, systemic insecticide chemically related to the tobacco toxin nicotine. Like nicotine, it acts on nervous system. Worldwide, it is considered to be one of the insecticides used in the largest volume. It has a wide diversity of uses in agriculture, on turf, on pets, and for household pests. The present study was carried out in department of Anatomy Govt. Medical College, Ambedkar Nagar and Santosh Medical College Ghaziabad U.P. on 240 fertile eggs of white leghorn chicken obtained from government poultry farm after taking permission from animal ethical committee. Chicken eggs after having been exposed to Imidacloprid with doses of 10µg, 15µg, 25µg, and 40µg in a volume of 10µl, 15µl, 25µl and 40µl respectively and control same as test group. The embryos were terminated on 20th and 21st days, egg shell broken with a scalpel and embryos removed. Gross morphological abnormality observed and recorded in all embryos. The results show that experimental group had comparatively more cases of delayed and growth retardation resulting into failure of retraction of yolk sac as compared to the controls. Comparatively higher doses proved more toxic and also caused many developmental defects. Imidacloprid exposure increases the risks of developmental defects with increasing embryonic age. Imidacloprid caused developmental delays and malformations on chick embryo.