Assessment of toxicity of pyriproxyfen, Bacillus thuringiensis, and malathion and their mixtures used for mosquito control on embryo-larval development and behavior of zebrafish

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2024-06, Vol.31 (30), p.42672-42685
• Main Authors: Padilha, Renata Meireles Oliveira, da Silva Gomes, Samara, da Silva, Jadson Freitas, Silva, Renatta Priscilla Ferreira, de Andrade, André Lucas Corrêa, dos Santos Magnabosco, Amanda Rodrigues, Santos, Thamiris Pinheiro, de Lima Silva, Andressa Raphaely, da Silva, Maria Leticia Santos Carnaúba, Cadena, Marilia Ribeiro Sales, Cadena, Pabyton Gonçalves
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Aquatic insects; Aquatic Pollution; arboviruses; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bacillus thuringiensis; Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis; Binary mixtures; Danio rerio; deformation; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Embryo, Nonmammalian - drug effects; Embryos; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Evaluation; Exposure; head; Heart rate; Insect control; Insecticides - toxicity; Larva - drug effects; Larval development; Malathion; Malathion - toxicity; morphometry; Mortality; mosquito control; Mosquito Control - methods; Mosquitoes; Optomotor response; pericardium; Pesticides; Population control; Pyridines - toxicity; Pyriproxyfen; Research Article; Sensitivity analysis; Spine; tail; Thigmotaxis; Toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Yolk sac; Zebrafish
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33955-x

Pyriproxyfen (PPF), Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), and malathion (MLT) are widely used worldwide to control the population of mosquitos that transmit arboviruses. The current work aimed to evaluate the toxicity of these single pesticides and their binary mixtures of PPF + BTI, PPF + MLT, and MLT + BTI on the embryo-larval stage of zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) as an animal model. Epiboly, mortality, apical endpoints, affected animals, heart rate, morphometric, thigmotaxis, touch sensitivity, and optomotor response tests were evaluated. PPF and MLT and all mixtures reduced the epiboly percentage. Mortality increased significantly in all exposed groups, except BTI, with MLT being the most toxic. The observed apical endpoints were pericardial and yolk sac edemas, and tail and spine deformation. Exposure to MLT showed a higher percentage of affected animals. A reduction in heart rate was also observed in MLT- and PPF + MLT-exposed groups. The PPF + MLT mixture decreased head measurements. Behavioral alterations were observed, with a decrease in thigmotaxis and touch sensitivity responses in PPF + MLT and MLT + BTI groups. Finally, optomotor responses were affected in all groups. The above data obtained suggest that the MLT + PFF mixture has the greatest toxicity effects. This mixture affected embryo-larval development and behavior and is close to the reality in several cities that use both pesticides for mosquito control rather than single pesticides, leading to a reevaluation of the strategy for mosquito control.