BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSE OF THE BROWN GARDEN SNAILS, HELIX-ASPERSA TO CHLORFLUAZURON AND FLUFENOXURON

The two insect growth inhibitors, chlorfluazuron (IKI7899) and flufeno xuron (Cascade) were evaluated for their toxic and biochemical action against the terrestrial snails Helix aspersa (Muller). Chlorfluazuron was found to be more toxic to the snails than flufenoxuron. The experi mental snails were fed on lettuce discs treated with low concentration (1%) of each compound for a duration time of 1,2,3 and 5 days. There were no significant differences between treated and untreated snails i n total proteins, total lipids and glycogen content except in the case of chlorfluazuron treated snails, the glycogen content was increased. Both compounds reduced the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AIP). Ch lorfluazuron decreased the activity of acid phosphatase(AcP) and pheno loxidase (PO) enzymes, while flufenoxuron has an opposite effect. Chlo rfluazuron exhibited an increase in the activities of transaminases(GO T and GPT) whereas both enzymes were not affected by the flufenoxuron treatment. These results indicated that the biochemical alteration in snail tissue caused by chlorfluazuron reflected high toxicity against the snails than flufenoxuron.