Introduction: Intentional and accidental poisoning of animals is often caused by readily available commercial pesticides, such as the molluscicide metaldehyde. A retrospective analysis of suspected metaldehyde poisonings between 2014 and 2016 in Italy was conducted. Material and Methods: Biological matrices were collected for toxicological analyses in the course of routine Institute activity. A total of 183 organs from dogs and cats and 49 pieces of bait, here specificall y poisoned food used to lure animals, were analysed and the presence of metaldehyde was confirmed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: A high content of metaldehyde was demonstrated in the analysed samples from dogs and cats: 50 (27.3%) animals were found positive for metaldehyde intoxication together with 17 pieces of bait. Conclusion: The study emphasised the need for the control of metaldehyde use by the veterinary service.

The present study is an endeavor for profound exploration about the effects of 2 commonly used molluscicides in Egypt (bayluscide and copper sulfate ) on some reproductive aspects in mature male Albino rats. For this purpose, 180 mature male Albino rats were used. Animals were equally divided into 3 groups; the 1st group was considered as controls administered distilled water while those of the 2nd and 3rd groups were administered distilled water containing 1 / 20 LD50 of either baylucide or copper sulfate every 3 days for 8 successive weeks. The results of the present study revealed that administration of either molluscicides induced a serious drastic decline in the levels of the reproductive hormones; an effect which was not completely reversed after removal of the molluscicide for 8 successive weeks. This disruption upon reproductive hormones was concomitant with a significant deviation of semen parameters represented by a drop in the individual motility concomitant with an increase in dead sperm percentage as well as total sperm abnormalities. Moreover, stoppage of molluscicides administration along 8 successive weeks failed to improve all studied semen parameters. Moreover, evaluation of total antioxidant activity disclosed that application of either bayluscide or copper sulfate resulted in significant reduction in the total antioxidant capacity as compared with the corresponding control values; a finding which persisted after prevention of molluscicides administration along 8 weeks.

Ground fresh green leaves of Lucas aspera and Parthenium hysterophorus were screened for their molluscicidal property at dilutions of 1,000,2,500,5,000 and 10,000 ppm in water against fresh water snail, Indoplanorbis exustus at 6, 24 and 48 hr of exposure. Cent percent mortality of snails was noticed in all dilutions except the first one for each exposure time.