# Malathion-induced hematotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity in male chicks

**Authors:** Imad Mohamed Tahir Fadlalla, Khalid Musa Ali, Badr Hasab-Elrasoul Aljack, Muzzamil Atta

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1765548 · Frontiers in Veterinary Science · 2026-02-13

## TL;DR

This study shows how malathion affects blood, liver, and kidney functions in male chicks, helping assess its toxicity.

## Contribution

The study determines malathion's LD50 and its effects on biochemical and hematological parameters in chickens.

## Key findings

- Malathion exposure significantly alters blood cell counts and biochemical markers in chickens.
- Liver enzymes and kidney function indicators increase with higher malathion doses.
- LD50 for malathion in male chicks was determined as 620 mg/kg body weight.

## Abstract

Exposure to malathion has been linked to various toxicities that can affect nearly every organ in the human body. This study aimed to examine how malathion toxicity affects certain sero-biochemical and hematological parameters in chickens in order to determine the harmful effects on the blood, liver, and kidneys.

Two experiments were conducted as part of the study design. Experiments 1 and 2 were used to determine the LD50 value and the hazardous dose in chickens, respectively. In the first experiment, 10 groups of 30 birds each were used. Over a period of 4 weeks, each group was divided into five subgroups (with six birds in each replicate), and one group served as a control. In the second experiment, six groups of birds and one control group of 10 chicks each were used (60 + 10 birds).

The LD50 in this study was found to be 620 mg/kg of body weight. As the hazardous dose of malathion increased, the levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) gradually decreased. Compared to the control group, all treatments had significantly higher red blood cells (RBC) and total leukocyte counts (TLC) (p < 0.01). Albumin and glucose concentrations increased in tandem with the increases in malathion dosages. Significant increases were observed in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Bilirubin, creatinine, and urea levels progressively increased when dosages were increased. Triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels exhibited modest decreases as dosages increased. Toxic levels of malathion had a severe impact on magnesium and inorganic phosphate levels.

Hepatic, renal, and hematological functions are sensitive markers of malathion toxicity. The findings of the study provide a fundamental basis for understanding the acute toxicity of malathion in chickens. This study provides useful information for regulatory monitoring and risk assessment.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** malathion (PubChem CID 4004)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** SLC17A5 (solute carrier family 17 member 5) [NCBI Gene 26503] {aka AST, ISSD, NSD, SD, SIALIN, SIASD}, Alb (albumin) [NCBI Gene 24186] {aka Alb1, Albza}, ALB (albumin) [NCBI Gene 213] {aka FDAHT, HSA, PRO0883, PRO0903, PRO1341}, Bche (butyrylcholinesterase) [NCBI Gene 65036], GCK (glucokinase) [NCBI Gene 430370], GK2 (glycerol kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 418589] {aka GK}, Got2 (glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2) [NCBI Gene 25721] {aka ASPATA, mAAT}, GGT1 (gamma-glutamyltransferase 1) [NCBI Gene 2678] {aka CD224, D22S672, D22S732, GGT, GGT 1, GGTD}, ACHE (acetylcholinesterase (Cartwright blood group)) [NCBI Gene 396388], GGTLC5P (gamma-glutamyltransferase light chain 5 pseudogene) [NCBI Gene 653590] {aka GGT}, INS (insulin) [NCBI Gene 396145], Pdlim3 (PDZ and LIM domain 3) [NCBI Gene 114108] {aka Actn2lp, Alp}, GPT (glutamic--pyruvic transaminase) [NCBI Gene 2875] {aka AAT1, ALT, ALT1, GPT1, SGPT}, ALB (albumin) [NCBI Gene 396197], ALPP (alkaline phosphatase, placental) [NCBI Gene 250] {aka ALP, PALP, PLAP, PLAP-1}
- **Diseases:** death (MESH:D003643), epithelial (MESH:D009375), cytotoxic (MESH:D064420), Dehydration (MESH:D003681), hepatic damage (MESH:D056486), bacterial infections (MESH:D001424), renal disease (MESH:D007674), malaria (MESH:D008288), bilirubinemia (MESH:D006932), cell damage (MESH:D002280), renal tissue necrosis (MESH:D007673), nephrotic syndrome (MESH:D009404), Inflammation (MESH:D007249), hyperglycemia (MESH:D006943), hepatocellular dysfunction (MESH:D018248), poisoning (MESH:D011041), diarrhea (MESH:D003967), acute kidney injury (MESH:D058186), hemorrhage (MESH:D006470), Newcastle and Gumboro diseases (MESH:D009521), airway obstruction (MESH:D000402), pulmonary insufficiency (MESH:D011665), proteinuria (MESH:D011507)
- **Chemicals:** K (MESH:D011188), Na (MESH:D012964), OP (MESH:D010755), S-1,2-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl O, O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate (-), Malaoxon (MESH:C100082), heme (MESH:D006418), urea (MESH:D014508), Lipid (MESH:D008055), Magnesium (MESH:D008274), creatinine (MESH:D003404), Glucose (MESH:D005947), Ca (MESH:D002118), salt (MESH:D012492), inorganic phosphate (MESH:D010710), P (MESH:D010758), TG (MESH:D014280), sulfamethazine (MESH:D013418), Malathion (MESH:D008294), Bilirubin (MESH:D001663), uric acid (MESH:D014527), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), blood glucose (MESH:D001786), thiabendazole (MESH:D013827)
- **Species:** Nematoda (nematode, phylum) [taxon 6231], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116], Gallus gallus (bantam, species) [taxon 9031], Phthiraptera (lice, infraorder) [taxon 85819], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]

## Full text

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## References

44 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12947272/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12947272