Sublethal effect of fipronil exposure on liver and kidney tissues with evaluation of the recovery ability of Japanese quail (Coturnix Japonica)

Currently, there are limited toxicological data available for fipronil exposure effect on Japanese quail. The aim of the current study was to assess the toxicological effects on tissue histopathology and clinical biochemistry in a 15-day gavage study of fipronil as well as studying the physiological recovery of a 60-day depuration period after exposure in the Japanese quail. Relative liver and kidney weights in fipronil and recovery groups were non significantly changed than control. Histological changes in the liver and kidney were observed at fipronil group and recovery groups which showed restoration of the histoarchitecture particularly in an off dose 45 and 60 days groups. These changes were accompanied by clinical changes in the serum enzyme markers such as alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Clinical biochemistry markers for kidney were not altered in all groups, except creatinine level which showed a significant elevation in fipronil group only, although the presence of histological changes. Our results showed that fipronil exposure had a profound negative influence on the liver not in kidney injury indices and also on histological changes of Japanese quail liver and kidney tissues. Also, such changes were reversed after an off-dose period of 30 and 45 days.