Acute toxicity evaluation of triazophos,deltamethrin and their combination on earthworm,Eudrilus eugeniae and its impact on AChE activity

The acute toxicity of three formula grade pesticides namely, triazophos (an organophosphate, OP), deltamethrin (a pyrethroid) and combined pesticide (triazophos?+?deltamethrin) was determined in earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae. They were exposed to different concentrations of these pesticides for 48 h by paper contact toxicity method. The LC₅₀ values for triazophos, deltamethrin and of combination were determined as 0.076, 0.031 and 0.065?μg/cm², respectively. To study the sublethal effect of these pesticides, E. eugeniae were exposed to 5% and 10% of LC₅₀ of pesticides for 48 h. Morphological alterations such as coiling, clitellar swelling, mucus release and bleeding followed by body segmentation were observed in exposed earthworm. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity assayed in different regions of body segment exhibited a significant (p?