Determination of toxic effects of commercial and local mosquito repellents in <i>Oryctolagus cuniculus</i> (New Zealand white)

Abstract

Mosquito coils are slow-burning products which release smoke containing one or more insecticides. It burns for several hours in a confined place in order to provide protection against mosquitoes which spread diseases like malaria. The present study examined the in vivo effect of inhaling mosquito coil and two locally made mosquito repellents on liver function and haematology parameters of adult male rabbits. A total of 16 rabbits were divided into four groups i.e. groups A, B, C and D. Groups A, B and C were exposed to mosquito coil, rice husk and oranges peels respectively for 8 hours daily. Group D was not exposed and served as a negative control. The rabbits were exposed for four weeks. On day 29 blood samples were collected from the ear pinna of rabbits for haematology and liver function tests. It was observed that both haematological and biochemical results showed varying indices from that of the negative control. However only the group exposed to orange peels (group C) presented a statistically significant difference at P< 0.05 in lowering the blood glucose levels. Elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase were seen with statistical significance at P < 0.05 between the group exposed to rice husk and the control and also between the rice husk and mosquito coil groups respectively. The results showed increased levels of alanine aminotransferase which could indicate acute liver problems in the rice husk treated group. It is also worthy of note that the glucose levels were lowered in the group treated with orange peels. However there was evidence of toxicity in all treated groups.

Keywords: Haematology, Liver function, Mosquito repellent, Oranges peels, Rice husk, Toxicity