Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Microplastic Particles on Gut Microbiota Composition and Health Status in Rabbit Livestock

The widespread use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its entry into humans and livestock is of serious concern. In our study, we investigated the impact of PVC treatments on physiological, pathological, hormonal, and microbiota changes in female rabbits. Trend-like alterations in weight were observed...

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Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2024-12, Vol.25 (23), p.12646
Main Authors: Papp, Péter P., Hoffmann, Orsolya Ivett, Libisch, Balázs, Keresztény, Tibor, Gerőcs, Annamária, Posta, Katalin, Hiripi, László, Hegyi, Anna, Gócza, Elen, Szőke, Zsuzsanna, Olasz, Ferenc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Drinking water
Feeds
Inflammation
Kidneys
Liver
Lymphatic system
Metabolism
Metabolites
Microbiota
Ovaries
Pathogens
Physiology
Plastic pollution
Polyvinyl chloride
Rabbits
Small intestine
Spleen
Toxins
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Summary:The widespread use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its entry into humans and livestock is of serious concern. In our study, we investigated the impact of PVC treatments on physiological, pathological, hormonal, and microbiota changes in female rabbits. Trend-like alterations in weight were observed in the spleen, liver, and kidney in both low (P1) and high dose (P2) PVC treatment groups. Histopathological examination revealed exfoliation of the intestinal mucosa in the treated groups compared to the control, and microplastic particles were penetrated and embedded in the spleen. Furthermore, both P1 and P2 showed increased 17-beta-estradiol (E2) hormone levels, indicating early sexual maturation. Moreover, the elevated tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels suggest inflammatory reactions associated with PVC treatment. Genus-level analyses of the gut microbiota in group P2 showed several genera with increased or decreased abundance. In conclusion, significant or trend-like correlations were demonstrated between the PVC content of feed and physiological, pathological, and microbiota parameters. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the broad-spectrum effects of PVC microplastic exposure in rabbits. These results highlight the potential health risks associated with PVC microplastic exposure, warranting further investigations in both animals and humans.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms252312646