Toxicity of the insecticide chlorpyrifos to the South American toad Rhinella arenarum at larval developmental stage

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an insecticide widely used for pest control in the fruit-productive region of North Patagonia, Argentina, where it is found in superficial waters. The aim of this study was to establish the toxic effects of CPF in Rhinella arenarum toad larvae as a potentially exposed species....

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Liendro, Natacha, Ferrari, Ana, Mardirosian, Mariana Noelia, Lascano, Cecilia Ines, Venturino, Andres
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2015
Country:Argentina
Institution:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repository:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/37575
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/37575
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Amphibians
Biomarkers
Cholinesterase Inhibition
Organophosphates
Oxidative Stress
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Description
Summary:Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an insecticide widely used for pest control in the fruit-productive region of North Patagonia, Argentina, where it is found in superficial waters. The aim of this study was to establish the toxic effects of CPF in Rhinella arenarum toad larvae as a potentially exposed species. We determined the 96. h-LC50 (1.46. ±. 0.27. mg/L), the LOEC (0.81. mg/L, LC10) and NOEC (0.43. mg/L, LC1) for CPF lethality as endpoint. We also analyzed biochemical biomarkers in larvae exposed to sublethal CPF concentrations. The IC50 for cholinesterase was 0.113. ±. 0.026. mg/L, one order of magnitude lower than the LC50. Carboxylesterase activity was inhibited, buffering OP toxicity on cholinesterase. Reduced glutathione increased after 24. h as an antioxidant response, and decreased at 96. h together with catalase activity, due to oxidative stress. These biochemical effects suggest that environmentally relevant CPF concentrations pose a threat to R. arenarum larvae progression.