Biomagnification and body distribution of ivermectin in dung beetles

Abstract

A terrestrial test system to investigate the biomagnification potential and tissue-specific distribution of ivermectin, a widely used parasiticide, in the non-target dung beetle Thorectes lusitanicus (Jekel) was developed and validated. Biomagnification kinetics of ivermectin in T. lusitanicus was investigated by following uptake, elimination, and distribution of the compound in dung beetles feeding on contaminated faeces. Results showed that ivermectin was biomagnified in adults of T. lusitanicus when exposed to non-lethal doses via food uptake. Ivermectin was quickly transferred from the gut to the haemolymph, generating a biomagnification factor (BMF k) three times higher in the haemolymph than in the gut after an uptake period of 12 days. The fat body appeared to exert a major role on the biomagnification of ivermectin in the insect body, showing a BMF k 1.6 times higher than in the haemolymph. The results of this study highlight that the biomagnification of ivermectin should be investigated from a global dung-based food web perspective and that the use of these antiparasitic substances should be monitored and controlled on a precautionary basis. Thus, we suggest that an additional effort be made in the development of standardised regulatory recommendations to guide biomagnification studies in terrestrial organisms, but also that it is necessary to adapt existing methods to assess the effects of such veterinary medical products.

Impacts of macrocyclic lactones on larval survival, growth and development of three dung beetle species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

“…Smaller larvae would have a larger surface area of cuticle exposed to ML absorption from chemical-treated dung, in addition to the chemical effect from ingestion. There is also a bioaccumulation effect of MLs in the different organs of the larvae, which makes the first and second instars of all exposed individuals vulnerable to toxic impacts (Verdú et al 2020). Further research into how the MLs affect various-sized beetles and beetles with different sensitivities to drenches (e.g.…”

“…There is also a bioaccumulation effect of MLs in the different organs of the larvae, which makes the first and second instars of all exposed individuals vulnerable to toxic impacts (Verdú et al . 2020). Further research into how the MLs affect various‐sized beetles and beetles with different sensitivities to drenches (e.g.…”

A role of peptidoglycan recognition protein in mediating insecticide detoxification in Glyphodes pyloalis

“…In terms of immunisation, the expression of the defensin C gene was increased by Trypanosoma cruzi infection (Araújo et al, 2021; Vieira et al, 2016). As an intermediate metabolic organ, the fat body plays an essential role in immunity, metabolic detoxification, and nutrient storage, which is similar to the mammalian liver (Arrese & Soulages, 2010; Chen et al, 2019; Mao et al, 2019; Verdú et al, 2020). In terms of metabolic detoxification, the fat body is related to multifarious detoxification enzymes such as GSTs, P450s, and CXEs (Wang et al, 2013).…”

Environmental and ecotoxicological effects of drugs used for the treatment of COVID 19

“…This compound is an antiparasitic widely used in livestock; animals excrete it through manure and negatively affect the survival and reproduction of organisms that degrade manure, such as dung beetles and entomopathogenic nematodes (González-Tokman et al, 2017;Villada-Bedoya et al, 2021). Ivermectin affects the survival of Pristionchus maupasi (Kar et al, 2020), Eisenia fétida (Zhao et al, 2019), Folsomia candida (Guimarães et al, 2019), Hypoaspis aculeifer (Römbke et al, 2010), Thorectes lusitanicus (Verdú et al, 2020), Sepsis punctum (Conforti et al, 2018), Enchytraeus crypticus, Folsomia fimetaria, Hypogastrura assimilis (Jensen and Scott-Fordsmand, 2012), among others.…”