Blood clinical-chemical parameters and feeding history in growing Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) chicks exposed to Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate and Dechlorane Plus in ovo

ABSTRACT

Blood clinical-chemical parameters (BCCPs) are used to investigate physiological consequences attributed to exposure to anthropogenic stressors, such as exposure to Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and Dechlorane Plus (DP), which are flame retardants (FRs), on avian health. Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were used as a model species to investigate individual and mixture effects of both FRs by injecting different concentrations (5, 50, or 500 ng/µL) of either of these compounds as well as a 1:1 mixture of both into fertilized eggs. To estimate post-hatching effects, 18 BCCPs were evaluated from 101 chicks at day 14. Albumin levels were found to be significantly elevated in the groups exposed to high doses of TDCIPP alone as well as a mixture of TDCIPP and DP. However, during the course of the study, the initial corn-based feed had to be substituted by a fishmeal-based feed. The 8 days consuming the new feed played a significant role on 12 of 18 BCCPs measured. Consequently, it is recommended that dietary habits need to be considered when investigating the physiological impact of contaminants using BCCPs as biomarkers in growing nestlings both in controlled in vivo and field experiments.

KEYWORDS:

• Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate
• dechlorane plus
• feed intake
• BCCPs
• flame retardant
• chick quail

Acknowledgements

The study was approved by the National Animal Research Authority of Norway (FOTS no. 7291). The Norwegian Research Council and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) are acknowledged for funding the project NEWRAPTOR (NFR, 230465/F20, project manager Dr. V. L. B. Jaspers). The University of Antwerp is acknowledged for providing funding to Dr. Malarvannan and Dr. Poma assisting with the chemical analyses of contaminants. The authors acknowledge the help of Sara Alainezhad Kjærvik, Olga Novillo Sanjuan, Johan Henrik Hårdensson Berntsen and Claus Bech during the course of the experiment and/or during the dissections and sampling. Laboratory technicians at the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) are acknowledged for conducting the BCCP analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.