Embryonic toxicity of a dimethoate containing insecticide formulation and Cu-sulphate in chicken after individual or combined administration.

The aim of this study was to determine the individual and combined toxic effects of a dimethoate containing insecticide formulation and Cu-sulphate on the development of chicken embryos. The test materials were injected directly into the air-chamber in a volume of 0.1 ml/egg, or eggs were treated by immersion technique on day 12. Applied concentration of Cu-sulphate was 0.01% and the concentration of insecticidE was 0.1%. After the injection treatment of a dimethoate containing insecticide on day 12 of incubation, the average body mass of embryos significantly decreased. The simultaneous injections of Cu-sulphate and a dimethoate containing insecticide a statistically significant reduction in embryonic body mass occurred. Embryonic mortality did not increase after the individual injection of test materials, while the combined injection of Cu-sulphate and a dimethoate containing insecticide killed 30% of embryos treated. After the individual and combined immersion treatment of Cu-sulphate and a dimethoate containing insecticide, the average body mass of embryos did not decrease significantly as compared to the control. After the combined immersion treatment the incidence of embryonic mortality and the number of embryos with developmental anomalies did not differ markedly from the control. In summary, it can be established that the combined injection treatment of Cu-sulphate and a dimethoate containing insecticide caused higher embryotoxicity with respect to the test of the combined immersion treatment of test materials.