Abstract

The study was designed to evaluate the tolerance, survivability, hematological and biochemical indices of weaner rabbits fed diet contaminated with varying levels of Actellic 2% dust. The effects of the pesticide on the clinical state of the animals were also appraised. A uniform diet was compounded from ingredients certified to be apparently pesticide residue-free. This diet was partitioned into 5 sub-diets. The first partition A had no residue, serving as control, while B, C, D, and E had 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04% inclusion of the Actellic 2% dust, respectively. A total of 20 rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes were used in the experiment. The animals were balanced for breed, sex and weight in a completely randomized design experiment. Four animals each were placed on each treatment diets for 45 days which were preceded by 3 weeks of acclimatization. Blood was collected and analysed at the end of the experiment. Haematological parameters (PCV, WBC, RBC, ESR, platelets, MCV, MCH, MCHC) and biochemical parameters (urea, serum protein, ALP, SGOT, SGPT, K⁺) were comparable in all groups and found not to be statistically (p >0.o5) influenced. Whereas heamoglobin, monocyte, eosinophil, Na⁺ and creatinine were statistically influenced (P < 0.05). Only one mortality was recorded in treatment group with the highest dose. The results generally showed that weaner rabbits can tolerate the presence of Actellic dust in feed up to 0.03%. At this dose, the Actellic dust does not have much adverse effect on haematological and biochemical parameters. Higher concentration of 0.04% can result in manifestation of toxicity symptoms and sometimes death, such values are rarely naturally present in feeds. However, animals which are able to tolerate high values hardly manifest poor performances.

Key words: Actellic 2% dust, feed-ingredients, haematological, serum, metabolites, rabbits.