Impact of Pesticide Exposure on the Metabolic and Tissue Health of <scp> <i>Scincus scincus</i> </scp> (Reptilia: Scincidae) in Southeastern Algeria

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the biochemical and histological impacts of pesticide exposure on the sandfish skink, Scincus scincus, in the agricultural region of El Oued-Souf, Algeria. We carried out biochemical blood analysis and histological examination on lizards sampled from sites with high, moderate, and low exposure to pesticides. Biochemical analyses revealed significant disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism, renal function, and systemic inflammation, correlating with varying levels of exposure to pesticides. The high-exposure group exhibited marked hyperglycemia (2.06 ± 0.29 mmol/L), elevated cholesterol (1.99 ± 0.44 mmol/L), and triglycerides (1.28 ± 0.42 mmol/L), along with significant increases in C-reactive protein levels (11.78 ± 9.4), indicating systemic inflammation. Histological examination of heart, liver, and stomach tissues revealed a clear, exposure-gradient-dependent spectrum of pathological alterations. In samples from high-exposure sites, tissues exhibited prominent interstitial fibrosis, marked infiltration of inflammatory cells, and a pronounced disruption of normal cellular architecture. These findings provide compelling evidence that increasing levels of pesticide exposure in agricultural areas are linked not only to systemic biochemical disturbances but also to significant local tissue damage in Scincus scincus, thus underlining the broader ecological and public health risks associated with intensive pesticide use.