scholarly journals Assessment of water pollution in the Brazilian Pampa biome by means of stress biomarkers in tadpoles of the leaf frog Phyllomedusa iheringii (Anura: Hylidae)

Author(s):  
Tiago G Santos ◽  
Roberto Melo ◽  
Dennis Costa e Silva ◽  
Mauro Nunes ◽  
Jeferson Franco, JL Franco

The Brazilian Pampa biome is currently under constant threat due to increase of agriculture and improper management of urban effluents. Studies with focus on the assessment of impacts caused by human activities in this biome are scarce. In the present study we measured stress-related biomarkers in tadpoles of the leaf frog Phyllomedusa iheringii, an endemic species to the Pampa biome, and tested its suitability as a bioindicator for the assessment of potential aquatic contamination in selected ponds (S1 and S2) nearby agricultural areas in comparison to a reference site. A significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity was observed in S2 when compared to S1 and reference. The levels of total-hydroperoxides were increased in S2 site. In parallel, increased activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase were observed in S2 when compared to S1 and reference. Further studies are necessary in order to correlate the changes observed here with different chemical stressors in water, as well as to elucidate mechanisms of toxicity induced by pesticides in amphibian species endemic to the Pampa biome. Nevertheless, our study validates Phyllomedusa iheringii as a valuable bioindicator in environmental studies.

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago G Santos ◽  
Roberto Melo ◽  
Dennis Costa e Silva ◽  
Mauro Nunes ◽  
Jeferson Franco, JL Franco

The Brazilian Pampa biome is currently under constant threat due to increase of agriculture and improper management of urban effluents. Studies with focus on the assessment of impacts caused by human activities in this biome are scarce. In the present study we measured stress-related biomarkers in tadpoles of the leaf frog Phyllomedusa iheringii, an endemic species to the Pampa biome, and tested its suitability as a bioindicator for the assessment of potential aquatic contamination in selected ponds (S1 and S2) nearby agricultural areas in comparison to a reference site. A significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity was observed in S2 when compared to S1 and reference. The levels of total-hydroperoxides were increased in S2 site. In parallel, increased activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase were observed in S2 when compared to S1 and reference. Further studies are necessary in order to correlate the changes observed here with different chemical stressors in water, as well as to elucidate mechanisms of toxicity induced by pesticides in amphibian species endemic to the Pampa biome. Nevertheless, our study validates Phyllomedusa iheringii as a valuable bioindicator in environmental studies.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago G Santos ◽  
Roberto Melo ◽  
Dennis Costa e Silva ◽  
Mauro Nunes ◽  
Jeferson Franco, JL Franco

The Brazilian Pampa biome is currently under constant threat due to increase of agriculture and improper management of urban effluents. Studies with focus on the assessment of impacts caused by human activities in this biome are scarce. In the present study we measured stress-related biomarkers in the muscle tissue of tadpoles of the leaf frog Phyllomedusa iheringii as a tool for the assessment of potential aquatic contamination in selected ponds (S1 and S2) nearby agricultural areas in comparison to a reference site. A significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity was observed in S2 when compared to S1 and reference. The levels of total-hydroperoxides were increased in S2 site. In parallel, increased activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase were observed in S2 when compared to S1 and reference. Based on the results, we drawn attention to the harmful effects caused by indiscriminate use of pesticides on the Pampa biome borders. Our study also validates Phyllomedusa iheringii as a valuable organism for field-based ecotoxicological studies. M


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Nunes ◽  
Fabio Wacker da Silva ◽  
Dennis Costa-Silva ◽  
Gabriel Luz Wallau ◽  
Thais Posser ◽  
...  

Located in southern Brazil, the Pampa biome has been under constant threat due to improper management of human effluents and use of pesticides. These contaminants accumulate mainly in water resources resulting in chronic poisoning of aquatic biota. Up to date, no studies on the assessment of environmental quality in the Brazilian portion of Pampa biome have been undertaken. Thereby, our main goal in this study was to investigate the ecotoxicological risks caused by human activity in the Santa Maria River, a major water course in the Brazilian Pampa biome. Brain and muscle tissues were used for determining oxidative stress and cholinesterase biomarkers in fish (Astyanax sp.) exposed to urban and agricultural effluents. A substantial decrease in fish muscle acetylcholinesterase activity was observed in exposed animals, compared to controls (kept under laboratory conditions). In parallel, increased lipid peroxidation and significant changes in stress-responsive antioxidant enzymes (GST, CAT, GPx, and TrxR) were detected. In the fish brain, a significant increase in GST activity is reported. In conclusion, our results showed significant changes in biomarkers of water contamination in Astyanax captured in Santa Maria River, pointing to important levels of water pollution in the region and validating the use of Astyanax in biomonitoring programs within the Pampa biome borders.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 649
Author(s):  
Marco Capolupo ◽  
Paola Valbonesi ◽  
Elena Fabbri

The ocean contamination caused by micro- and nano-sized plastics is a matter of increasing concern regarding their potential effects on marine organisms. This study compared the effects of a 21-day exposure to 1.5, 15, and 150 ng/L of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MP, 3-µm) and nanoplastics (PS-NP, 50-nm) on a suite of biomarkers measured in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Endpoints encompassed immunological/lysosomal responses, oxidative stress/detoxification parameters, and neurotoxicological markers. Compared to PS-MP, PS-NP induced higher effects on lysosomal parameters of general stress. Exposures to both particle sizes increased lipid peroxidation and catalase activity in gills; PS-NP elicited greater effects on the phase-II metabolism enzyme glutathione S-transferase and on lysozyme activity, while only PS-MP inhibited the hemocyte phagocytosis, suggesting a major role of PS particle size in modulating immunological/detoxification pathways. A decreased acetylcholinesterase activity was induced by PS-NP, indicating their potential to impair neurological functions in mussels. Biomarker data integration in the Mussel Expert System identified an overall greater health status alteration in mussels exposed to PS-NP compared to PS-MP. This study shows that increasing concentrations of nanoplastics may induce higher effects than microplastics on the mussel’s lysosomal, metabolic, and neurological functions, eventually resulting in a greater impact on their overall fitness.


2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 953-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Despotovic ◽  
Branka Perendija ◽  
Jelena Gavric ◽  
Slavica Borkovic-Mitic ◽  
M.M. Paunovic ◽  
...  

The river snail (Viviparus acerosus) from the Velika Morava River, Serbia was chosen in our study in order to determine seasonal changes in oxidative stress biomarkers between July (summer) and September (autumn). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and the phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), as well as the concentration of total glutathione (GSH), were examined in the whole body of the river snails. The obtained results show significantly higher activities of CAT, GSH-Px, GR and biotransformation phase II enzyme GST in September compared to July, while the GSH concentration was lower. There was no general trend in the seasonal changes in the activity of SOD. The presented data show that animals in their natural environment are exposed to constant fluctuations of environmental conditions that could cause antioxidants to exhibit seasonal variations. This fact should be considered as an important variable in the interpretation of results in biomonitoring studies.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260172
Author(s):  
Shawky M. Aboelhadid ◽  
Waleed M. Arafa ◽  
Abdel-Azeem S. Abdel-Baki ◽  
Atalay Sokmen ◽  
Saleh Al-Quraishy ◽  
...  

Globally, the economic losses due to hard ticks infestation and the control of the associated diseases have been calculated at USD $13.9–18.7 billion per year. The economic impact is related to its direct damage to the skins, blood loss, anemia, severe immunological reactions and indirect losses that related to the effects of hemoparasites, cost of treatment for clinical cases and expenses incurred in the control of ticks. The current study evaluated the acaricidal activities of fennel Foeniculum vulgare essential oil and its main components; trans-anethole and fenchone; against R. annulatus. GC–MS analysis revealed that this oil contained 16 components representing 99.9% of the total identified compounds with E-anethole being the predominant component(64.29%), followed by fenchone (9.94%). The fennel oil and trans-anethole showed significant acaricidal activities. The LC50 of the fennel oil was attained at concentrations of 12.96% for adult ticks and 1.75% for tick larvae meanwhile the LC50 of trans-anethole was reached at concentrations of 2.36% for adult tick and 0.56% for tick larvae. On the contrary, fenchone showed no any significant adulticidal activities and its LC50 attained at a concentration of 9.11% for tick larvae. Regarding repellence activities, trans-anethole achieved 100% repellency at the concentration of 10% while fennel showed 86% repellency at the same concentration. Fenchone showed no repellency effect. Treatment of larvae with fennel, trans-anethole, and fenchone LC50 concentrations significantly inhibited the acetylcholinesterase activity. Meanwhile, glutathione s-transferase activity was significantly decreased in fennel treated larvae but no significant effect was found in the larvae of trans-anethole and fenchone groups. These results indicate that the acaricide effect of fennel oil may attributed to its high content of trans-anethole. This was supported by potent adulticidal, larvicidal, and repellency effects of trans-anethole against Rhipeciphalus annulatus tick and therefore it could be included in the list of acaricide of plant origin.


Author(s):  
Abubakar lema Abdullahi ◽  
A. A. Lema ◽  
K. Jibrin ◽  
W. Nuraddeen ◽  
E. M. Alexander

Cumulative lifetime lead (Pb) exposure has been associated with accelerated declines in cognition through the free radical generation and epigenetic effects. Several pieces of literature have identified a correlation between exposure to lead and neurodegenerative disorders. Harwich strain Drosophila melanogaster was exposed to lead acetate for two weeks, and changes in pulse transmission by acetylcholinesterase and systemic redox were evaluated. Besides, molecular docking studies of acetylcholinesterase against Quercetin and its most common derivatives contained in food have been performed. Pharmacokinetic studies on Quercetin and its derivatives have also been performed in silico toxicity. The data obtained showed alterations in antioxidant enzymes and molecules such as catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione. Upregulation of acetylcholinesterase activity was observed after treatment with Quercetin. In molecular docking tests, Quercetin and its derivatives were found to bind to acetylcholinesterase's active and peripheral pockets. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrate moderate solubility, high therapeutic index, excellent absorption potential, hepatoprotective and non-mutagenic properties. With other antioxidant molecules, Quercetin may also play a crucial role in avoiding the development of Alzheimer's and associated antioxidant disorders.  


PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
TG Santos ◽  
R Melo ◽  
DG Costa-Silva ◽  
MEM Nunes ◽  
NR Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Aghogho Oyibo ◽  
Amos O. Abolaji ◽  
Oyeronke A. Odunola

Abstract Objectives The inadvertent exposure to environmental contaminants has been reported to induce cancer in different animal models. Here, we investigated the toxicity of Sodium Arsenite (SA), a Class I Carcinogen in Drosophila melanogaster. Methods Harwich fly strain (1–3 days old) of both sexes were orally exposed to SA (0, 0.0312, 0.0625 and 0.125 mM) for 14 days for survival study. Thereafter, 5 days exposure period was selected to assess the toxic effects of SA on oxidative stress and antioxidant markers. Results The results indicated that SA induced significant reduction in survival and emergence rate of flies. Furthermore, SA significantly increased Nitric Oxide (NO, nitrite and nitrate) and Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) levels in flies compared with control (p<0.05). In addition, SA inhibited catalase and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities, and depleted total thiol and glutathione (GSH) contents. Moreover, acetylcholinesterase activity significantly increased in flies treated with SA when compared with control. Conclusions Sodium arsenite-induced reduction in survival and emergence rates of flies occurred via the disruption of oxidative stress-antioxidant homeostasis in D. melanogaster.


2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Eduardo Delfino Vieira ◽  
Mayara da Silva Almeida ◽  
Bruno Ambrssio Galindo ◽  
Lindalva Pereira ◽  
Claudia Bueno dos Reis Martinez

Aquatic ecosystems in areas with intense agricultural activity are subject to pesticide contamination, which may compromise the health of the fish. In order to verify the quality of the water and the possible effects of pesticides on fish, a method that combines different biomarker responses into an index named "integrated biomarker response" (IBR) was applied using the biological alterations in the Neotropical fish Astyanax altiparanae. Fish were maintained in situ at five sites along a stream that runs in an agricultural area and in a stream within a forest fragment, considered a reference site. After seven days of exposure the following alterations were observed in fish confined at experimental sites: increased activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) and increase in the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver and gills, reduction of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain and muscle, increase in the occurrence of DNA strand breaks and in the frequency of micronuclei (MN) and nuclear abnormalities (ENA) in erythrocytes. The IBR highlighted three sites as the most affected, as the animals confined at these sites showed greater variations in biological responses. The biomarkers most important for the IBR results were GST, AChE, DNA breaks and ENA.


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