| dc.description.abstract | Subsequent to the discovery of DDT in the early 40's, other organochlorine
pesticides have been introduced. These compounds generally resist microbial and
chemical degradation and therefore persist in the environment. Despite the fact that
the use of organochlorine pesticides has been banned or restricted, environmental
contamination remains the main source of organochlorine pesticides in food
animals (Raisbeck et al. 1989). Studies on organochlorine pesticide residues
carried out on different tissues of various animal species in Kenya, have indicated
varying levels of environmental contamination. (Kanja et al.; 1992, Mitema and
Gitau 1990; Mugachia 1992 a; b). Organochlodne pesticides found in follicular
fluid of infertile women have been implicated as the cause of infertility (Bauklouh
et al. 1985).
Due to the fact that swine are polytocous, the large number of follicles and corpora
lutea available makes it a suitable animal model for the study of the possible effects
of organochlorine pesticides on reproduction. In this study, swine fat, muscle,
liver, corpus luteum and follicular fluid samples from abattoirs were analysed for
organochlorine pesticide residues. The tissues were obtained from two groups of
gilts; one group came from farms that used only commercial feed; the other
originated from farms that used commercial feed and swill interchangeably. The
objectives of this study were to establish the levels of organochlorine pesticide
levels in various swine tissues and to compare the levels of the pesticides found in
swine tissues from two slaughter houses obtaining pigs from different
backgrounds. | en |
