Bio-efficacy of aluminum phosphide and cypermethrin against some physiological and biochemical aspects of Chrysomya megacephala maggots

Abstract Carrion flies play a significant role in forensic entomotoxicology, where they are employed as alternative samples when traditional samples are unavailable. In situations of poisoned death, these toxins disrupt insect development and affect forensic entomology analyses. So, forensic entomotoxicologists must be aware of this impact. The present study aimed to determine the effects of aluminum phosphide (AlP) and cypermethrin (CP) on the biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzymes of the third instar of Chrysomya megacephala maggots. C. megacephala was reared on normal and poisoned rabbit carcasses with aluminum phosphide and cypermethrin. The third larval instar of C. megacephala was studied using by spectrophotometer for detection of total protein, (TP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione s-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results indicated to significantly decrease of TP, TAC, SOD, GST and CAT and increase of AST, ALT and MDA in the maggots reared on the poisoned carcasses with AlP or CP compared with control group. In conclusion, the tested insecticides brought about a decrease antioxidant enzyme activity and increase of MDA could be involved in free radicals in C. megacephala larvae leading to oxidative stress by these insecticidal components.