Effects of Malathion Organophosphate Exposure on Histology of Salivary Glands of 3rd Instar Larva and Brain of Adult Common Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster)

Malathion is a common organophosphate insecticide globally used in agriculture. Previous studies show that exposure to malathion causes considerable decrease in levels of amylase and acetylcholinesterase in Drosophila, which has a crucial role in neurotransmission. Hence, the objective of this paper was to investigate the effects of malathion organophosphate exposure on histology of salivary glands of 3rd instar larva and brain of adult common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) using appropriate standard procedures. Data obtained reveals that larval salivary glands suffered severe structural distortion, including destruction of epithelial cell layer. The adult Drosophila brains also demonstrated significant evidence of neuro-degeneration, including cellular degeneration. The results point to a gross histological deterioration in both the brain and salivary gland of larval and adult Drosophila upon the treatment with malathion. The histopathological data shows that malathion has detrimental effects on Drosophila. The cytotoxicity towards epithelial cells of the salivary gland may represent a generalized effect on the digestive system and neurodegeneration within the brain points to the likelihood of permanent neural damage. Based on these findings, both neuronal and digestive functions could be altered after a long-term exposure to Malathion, hence, this substance could also have a detrimental effect on human health.