Protective effects of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) against toxicity impacts of Imidacloprid on developing Chicken embryos

Background- Insecticides are commonly used in agriculture in order to reduce the damage caused by insects. These insecticides cause several metabolic disruptions, enter the food chain,and eventually within the human body. In agriculture, Imidacloprid is a popular neurotoxin used to control insect pest. Spirulina is a traditional phyto drug used as a nutraceutical food supplement and has a long history of use as food service.   Objective: The present study is designed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of Spirulina platensis against the teratogenic and morphometric malformations caused by Imidacloprid   Materials and methods:  The fertilized eggs of Gallus domesticus Vencobb Broiler were  kept  in an incubator at 38  ̊C with the relative humidity of 60%-70% and adequate ventilation. The eggs were  divided into four groups i.e, control, vehicle, treatment and protective group. Control groups have untreated eggs. The vehicle  group was supplied with tap water whereas treatment group  was tested for 0.025ml/ egg of imidacloprid  via air sac method. The eggs in protective group were  also administered with aqueous solution of Spirulina platensis  through air sac method. 19 day old embryos were recovered from all the groups in order to evaluate the   morphometric parameters  such as, the mortality rate, and number of surviving embryos having deformities, crown rump length, net body weight, neck length, eye diameter,  limb length and beak length.   Results: The findings show that mortality rate and number of surviving embryos having deformities were considerably increased upto 27% and 53% in imidacloprid exposed groups as compared to control groups. The crown rump length, net body weight, neck length, showed significant decline whereas eye diameter, beak and limb length showed slight alterations in treated groups.   Conclusion: The group supplemented with Spirulina platensis showed signs of recovery in maintaining the overall morphology of the developing chick embryo against imidacloprid-induced toxicity.