Acute toxicity of malathion in the Octodon degus

Despite the fact that organophosphates are pesticides of low toxicity, thei r increasing use has had adverse effects on animal species and ecology. Oct odon degus, a caviomorph found in the central region of Chile, usually live s under exposure to pesticides such as malathion. Recently, this rodent sho wed renal alterations when exposed to low doses of malathion that did not c ause alterations in rat kidney. There is no information about acute toxicit y of pesticides in the degu. The aim of the present investigation was to ev aluate the acute toxicity of malathion in this animal species, by determini ng the LD50. The pesticide was administered to the adult female Octodon deg us in a single dose given intraperitoneally. The LD50 of malathion was calc ulated by the statistical log-probit model of Finney and was found to be 43 6 mg/kg body weight. Med Sci Res 27:113-115 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.