Haemato-biochemical alterations in experimental Wistar rats exposed to pyrethroid-based mosquito coils and local mosquito repellants smoke

Abstract

This study assessed the sub-acute toxicity of inhaling pyrethroid–based mosquito coil smoke and locally made mosquito repellents on the haematological indices, liver and kidney enzymes in experimental wistar rats. Fifteen (15) rats with mean weight of 150.5 g were randomly divided into five (5) groups. Group I were considered as negative control while group II, III, IV and V were exposed to mosquito coil (super kill), mosquito incense stick (shooter), orange peels and Eucalyptus leaves respectively 8 h daily for 21 days. They were kept in fabricated fly wood cages of 45x70cm = 315 sqcm², mean room temperature 27.6 °C and a relative humidity of about 40% with 12 h light/dark cycle. Laboratory analysis in blood samples were carried out using standard procedure. The results obtained indicated significant decrease in weight in all the experimental rats compared with control. Red blood Cells (RBCs) count, haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and packed cell volume (PCV) of the experimental rats reduced significantly (p<0.05) when exposed to group II mosquito smoke, compared to the control group. The white blood cell (WBC) mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations (MCHC) in the experimental rats of group III, II, IV and V were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the control. It was observed that the activities of the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased significantly (p<0.05) in in the entire experimental rats when compared with the control. The urea and creatinine concentrations increased significantly (p<0.05) in all the experimental group compared with the control with the exception of total protein which decreased in the same trend. From the present finding it revealed that inhaling mosquito coil smoke and locally made mosquito repellents have the potential to stimulate varying pathological effect with tissue toxicity in the long run. It is recommended that, emphasis should be directed in regulating their indoor utilization in malaria control activities.