Clinico-hematological and tissue changes induced by butachlor in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) Riaz Hussain a,⇑ , Ahrar Khan b,⇑ , Fazal Mahmood b , Sarmad Rehan c , Farah Ali a a University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63000, Pakistan b Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan c Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan article info Article history: Received 21 June 2013 Accepted 8 January 2014 Available online 3 February 2014 Keywords: Butachlor Quail Hematology Micronucleus Testes Serum biochemistry abstract The present experiment was executed to determine the pathological effects induced by concurrent feed- ing of butachlor (chloroacetanilide herbicide) in male Japanese quail. For this purpose mature male quail about 4–5 weeks of age were procured from the local market and randomly divided into six equal groups (A–F). Butachlor was mixed in corn oil and administered orally for 30 days using crop tube. Four birds from each group were killed at day 10, 20 and 30 of the experiment and blood was collected with and without anticoagulant. The birds in groups (A–D) did not reveal any clinical and behavioral alterations. Clinical signs like watery droppings, dullness, ruffled feather, depression, decrease frequency of crowing, mounting with pen mates and foam production were observed. Maximum intensity of these clinical signs and behavioral alterations were observed in group F throughout the experiment. Significant lower values of erythrocytes, hematocrit percent and hemoglobin were recorded. Significantly increased numbers of erythrocytes with micronuclei, lobed and notched nuclei were observed. Histopathologically, enlarged intertubular space, fewer numbers of round spermatids, necrotic spermatids and admixture of dead sper- matids were observed in testes. The results revealed significant increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and urea concentrations. The results of present experimental study indicated that butachlor induces hematobiochemical and testicular changes in birds. Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction During recent decades the extensive use of different synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides have resulted deleterious effects on domestic animals, avian species and human [1,2]. Occupational exposure to pesti- cides induces major impact on environment and increases risks of infertility and adverse reproductive outcomes including prema- ture delivery, abortion and congenital anomalies [3]. Avian species having a distinctive place in ecosystem are the best representative of a sound ecosystem and are an indicator of early warning to environmental problems [4]. Due to owning the high trophic levels, the birds may be susceptible to large doses of different chemicals [5]. However, it is difficult to estimate the strength of pesticides and insecticides persuaded deaths in these species. Birds can die away from the site of ingestion of pesticides and their carcasses decompose quickly or may be eaten by the scavengers [6]. Some sub-lethal impacts of different synthetic chemicals/pesticides have been observed in avian species to know the certain characteristic biochemical responses which could be valuable to monitor the tox- icological effects induced by low levels in the field [7]. It is reported that pesticides induce DNA damage in erythrocytes and patholog- ical alterations in broilers [8]. Herbicides control the broad leave weeds through a variety of mechanisms, such as the inhibition of photosynthesis, leaf formation, root growth, cell division, mitosis and enzyme function [1]. Herbicides interfere with production of different cellular pigments including DNA or protein and destroy cell membranes [9]. Butachlor (2-chloro-2 0 ,6 00 -diethyl-N-but- oxymethylaceta-nilide) an important member of chloroacetanilide herbicides, is extensively used as a pre-emergence killing of un- wanted broadleaf weeds and grasses [10]. In Asia alone the buta- chlor (4.5 Â 10 7 kg) is used each year to control unwanted weeds in variety of cereal crops [11]. Erythrocytes are the best biomarkers of oxidative stress and re- flect all the physical and chemical alterations in different species that are exposed to various groups of pesticides/insecticides http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2014.01.005 0048-3575/Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. ⇑ Corresponding authors. E-mail addresses: driazhussain@yahoo.com (R. Hussain), ahrar1122@uaf.edu.pk (A. Khan). Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 109 (2014) 58–63 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/pest