Genotoxic effects of the fungicide thiophanate-methyl on Podarcis sicula assessed by micronucleus test, comet assay and chromosome analysis

Abstract

The increasing use of pesticides in modern agriculture has raised the need to evaluate their potential threat to animal and human health. In the present study, the genotoxic effects of environmentally relevant exposure to the fungicide thiophanate-methyl (TM) were assessed in the lizard Podarcis sicula (Reptilia, Lacertidae) using micronucleus test, chromosome aberration analysis and single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. The number of micronuclei increased significantly with exposure time in lizard specimens exposed to 1.5% TM for 30-40 days. In situ hybridization with the specific HindIII centromeric satellite was positive in 18.7% of the micronuclei observed, suggesting an aneugenic effect of TM during mitosis. DNA damage, evaluated by the comet assay, documented a significant gain in comet length in relation to exposure time that was paralleled by a reduction in head size. Finally, cytogenetic analysis showed a significant increase in chromosome aberrations in exposed animals compared with controls. Our data suggest that long-term TM exposure induces a genomic damage that is positively correlated to exposure time. If such genotoxic effects arise so clearly in an ectothermal vertebrate, such as P. sicula, prolonged exposure TM must be considered as a cytogenetic hazard.

The comet assay in animal models: From bugs to whales – (Part 2 Vertebrates)

“…Blood cells (erythrocytes) from wall lizard (Podarcis sicula) were used for the assessment of fungicide thiophanate-methyl genotoxicity. The observed DNA damage showed a significant increase in comet length in relation to exposure time which was paralleled by a reduction in head size [269]. The authors concluded that if such genotoxic effects arise so clearly in an ectothermal vertebrate, prolonged exposure to thiophanatemethyl is to be considered a cytogenetic hazard.…”

Dissipation behavior of thiophanate-methyl in strawberry under open field condition in Egypt and consumer risk assessment

“…One main feature of thiophanate-methyl is its fast absorption on the surface of treated plant, coupled with an ability to spread rapidly and transformed into carbendazim by the effect of plant enzymes or sunlight, which is also responsible for the fungal activity. In addition to carcinogenesis of thiophanate-methyl that has been well reported (U.S.EPA 1999), some other studies have indicated other harmful effects including endocrine disruption and damaging of mammalian genetic system and metabolism (Capriglione et al 2011;Cardone 2012;Feki et al 2017;Nwani et al 2015;Salihu et al 2016;Singh et al 2016). In response to any undesirable impacts of pesticides, set of worldwide measures Editorial Responsibility: Lotfi Aleya Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10186-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.…”

In vitro exposure to CPF affects bovine sperm epigenetic gene methylation pattern and the ability of sperm to support fertilization and embryo development

“…In recent years, studies have repeatedly reported that environmental pollutants interfere at different levels with the physiology of organisms, inducing alterations in development and reproduction (Salazar‐Aredondo et al, ; Capriglione et al, ; Perry et al, ; ACOG, ; Tussellino et al, ; Pallotta et al, ). Overexposure to chemical agents, heavy metals and pesticides, present in the environment or introduced into the bodies by feeding, has been demonstrated to reduce sperm quality, acting on spermatozoa counts and lowering percentages of normal mammalian sperm (Selvaraju et al, ; Ebadi Manas, ; Chiu et al, ).…”