CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN WHITE-WINGED DOVES EXPOSED TO METHYL PARATHION

• Published in: Journal of wildlife diseases Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 698 - 703
• Main Authors: Small, Michael F., Pruett, Christin L., Hewitt, David G., Hellgren, Eric C., Perrigo, Glenn H., Waggerman, Gary L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wildlife Disease Association 01.10.1998; Wildlife Dis Assoc
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; BLOOD PLASMA; BRAIN; Brain - drug effects; Brain - enzymology; CEREBRO; Cholinesterase; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - toxicity; Cholinesterases - blood; Cholinesterases - metabolism; chronic exposure; COLUMBIDAE; Columbidae - metabolism; COLUMBIFORMES; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drinking; ENCEPHALE; Insecticides - administration & dosage; Insecticides - toxicity; methyl parathion; Methyl Parathion - administration & dosage; Methyl Parathion - toxicity; PARATHION; PARATION; PLASMA SANGUIN; PLASMA SANGUINEO; white-winged dove; Zenaida asiatica
• ISSN: 0090-3558; 1943-3700
• DOI: 10.7589/0090-3558-34.4.698

Captive white-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) were exposed to various levels of methyl parathion (MP) in drinking water to determine effects on brain and blood cholinesterase (ChE) activity. We conducted two experiments to test the influence of MP dose (the amount of MP actually ingested), MP concentration (the amount of MP per unit water), and exposure duration (number of days exposed to a constant MP concentration) on ChE activity. Plasma ChE activity was not useful in predicting brain ChE activity. Methyl parathion concentration had a greater influence on plasma and brain ChE activity levels than dose or time of exposure. These results contribute to the evaluation of irrigation water as a route of exposure of wildlife to pesticides.