Evaluation of the <em>in vitro</em> immunotoxic effect of bromadiolone rodenticide in poultry

Abstract

In the present study, rodenticide bromadiolone was evaluated for <em>in vitro</em> immunotoxicity in poultry. The lymphocytes were separated from spleen and treated with NOEL/10², NOEL/10³, NOEL/10⁴, NOEL/10⁵, NOEL/10⁶ and NOEL/10⁷ (No observable effect level) dose of rodenticide for 30, 60 and 90 min and a group of cells were kept untreated (control). The cells were collected for detection of T and B- lymphocyte proliferation. Concanvalin-A (Con-A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated blastogenesis of T and B-lymphocytes was assessed by MTT dye method. The proliferation of both lymphocytes was markedly reduced in treated group in comparison to control indicating the down-regulation of not only the number of the variable lymphocytes but also their blastogenic activity required to mount an immune response in birds. It can be concluded from the present study that the bromadiolone rodenticide, even in very low doses can reduce proliferation of poultry lymphocytes leading to a state of immunosuppression.