Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) levels in rat livers collected from a malaria vector control region

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 2019, Vol.81(11), pp.1575-1579
• Main Authors: MOTOHIRA, Kodai, IKENAKA, Yoshinori, YOHANNES, Yared Beyene, NAKAYAMA, Shouta M. M., WEPENER, Victor, SMIT, Nico J., Johan H. J. VAN VUREN, SOUSA, Ana Catarina, ENUNEKU, Alex Ajeh, OGBOMIDA, Emmanuel Temiotan, ISHIZUKA, Mayumi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Beta decay; Bioaccumulation; DDT; DDT - chemistry; DDT - pharmacology; dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane; Electron capture; Electron capture detectors; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Female; Gas chromatography; house rat; indoor residual spraying; Insect Vectors; Insecticides; Insecticides - chemistry; Insecticides - pharmacology; Liver - chemistry; Malaria; Malaria - prevention & control; malaria vector control; Male; Metabolites; Mosquito Control - methods; Organic compounds; Organochlorine pesticides; Pesticides; Rats; Sentinel Surveillance; South Africa; Spraying; Toxicity; Toxicology; Vector-borne diseases; Wildlife
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.19-0168

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is an organochlorine insecticide that has been used for indoor residual spraying for the control of mosquito-borne diseases including malaria. However, due to its toxicity and environmental persistence, there are concerns about its potential deleterious effects in humans and wildlife. Therefore, the current study aimed to monitor and estimate the level of DDTs in human communities. The accumulation of DDT and its metabolites was evaluated in house rat (as sentinel) livers collected in an area where DDT was sprayed. DDTs were measured using a gas chromatography / Electron Capture Detector. The results revealed high concentrations of DDTs in the rat livers and the levels of DDTs were similar to findings reported from the same area in 2014.