Effects of Sublethal Doses of Lampcon® and Saturn® Pesticides on Some Clinicopathological and Immunological Parameters in Rats

This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological and immunological profiles of two pesticides widely used in Egypt, Lampcon® and Saturn® in rats. Rats divided into three groups of 10 animals in each. The first group received no treatment and served as control, the second group received Lampcon at a dose of 168 ppm in food, and the third group received Saturn at a dose of 4230 ppm in food. Pesticides (treatments) were administrated daily via food for 60 consecutive days. Blood samples were collected for evaluating the selected hematological, biochemical and immunological parameters. The results of hematological variables implicated no significant effect on red blood cell parameters, but there was a significant leukopenia, lymphopenia and neutrophilia in both treated groups. The blood biochemical parameters showed a significant increase in serum levels of urea and enzymatic activities of ALT, AST and ALP. The findings of immunological studies clarified that Lampcon and Saturn induced oxidative stress in leukocytes and had immunosuppressive effects. The main histopathological alterations induced by Lampcon and Saturn included lymphoid depletion in lymphoid organs. Conclusion: we can conclude that the exposure of rats to Lampcon and Saturn pesticides pose many hematological, biochemical, and histopathological alterations in addition to immunotoxic effects. It is thus advisable that Lampcon and Saturn should be used with caution and at the recommended levels indicated by the producing company to ensure minimal exposure to these pesticides during domestic, veterinary, agricultural or industrial use.