Harmful Effects of Pyraclostrobin on the Fat Body and Pericardial Cells of Foragers of Africanized Honey Bee.

Managed honey bees are daily exposed in agricultural settings or wild environments to multiple stressors. Currently, fungicide residues are increasingly present in bees' pollen and nectar and can harm colonies' production and survival. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the effects of the fungicide pyraclostrobin on the fat body and pericardial cells of Africanized honey bees.

Are native bees in Brazil at risk from the exposure to the neonicotinoid imidacloprid?

All across the world, different countries use Ecological risk assessments (ERA) of pesticides to pollinators as a regulatory tool to understand the safety of pesticide use in agriculture. However, pesticide application is still recognized as one of the main stress factors causing a decline in the global population of bees. In all ERA procedures, the effects of pesticides on the honey bee species Apis mellifera are used as a reference for the effects on all different bee species.

Sublethal doses of imidacloprid and pyraclostrobin impair fat body of solitary bee Tetrapedia diversipes (Klug, 1810).

Solitary bees present greater species diversity than social bees. However, they are less studied than managed bees, mainly regarding the harmful effects of pesticides present in agroecosystems commonly visited by them. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of residual doses of imidacloprid and pyraclostrobin, alone and in combination, on the fat body (a multifunctional organ) of the neotropical solitary bee Tetrapedia diversipes by means of morphological and histochemical evaluation of oenocytes and trophocytes.

Differential liver histopathological responses to amphibian chytrid infection.

Amphibians have been facing a pandemic caused by the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Although studies have elucidated cutaneous and homeostatic disturbances, it is still unknown if the hepatic function can be affected or if hepatic effects differ among host species. Thus, we evaluated the effects of an experimental Bd infection on the liver (histopathology and the hepatosomatic index) of 2 anuran species (Xenopus laevis and Physalaemus albonotatus) with different susceptibilities to Bd infection and compared them to uninfected controls.

Silent effect of the fungicide pyraclostrobin on the larval exposure of the non-target organism Africanized Apis mellifera and its interaction with the pathogen Nosema ceranae in adulthood.

The frequent exposure of bees to a wide variety of fungicides, on crops where they forage, can be considered a stressor factor for these pollinators. The organisms are exposed both to the fungicide active ingredients and to the adjuvants of commercial formulations. All these ingredients are brought to the hive by bee foragers through contaminated pollen and nectar, thus exposing also immature individuals during larval phase.

Hepatotoxicity of the anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) in bullfrog tadpoles.

The liver of anurans play an important role in metabolism, including detoxification, the biotransformation of molecules, and the storage of metabolites. Surfactants are part of domestic and industrial effluents. The effects of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) on anuran liver remain unknown, however, some studies have evaluated the effects of LAS on the skin, gills, heart, testes, and liver of fishes.

Immunodetection of heat shock protein 70 and cell death in liver of a neotropical fish acutely and chronically exposed to acetaminophen and propranolol.

The use of pharmaceutical drugs ends frequently in their inappropriate disposal and treatment at waste water treatment plants, which is the cause of their widespread presence in the environment. Yet, there is limited understanding or knowledge of their effects to non-target aquatic organisms. The drugs acetaminophen (analgesic and antipyretic) and propranolol (β-blocker) are widely found in the aquatic environment, where they can interact with non-target exposed organisms, causing adverse effects.

Fungicide pyraclostrobin affects midgut morphophysiology and reduces survival of Brazilian native stingless bee Melipona scutellaris.

Native stingless bees are key pollinators of native flora and important for many crops. However, the loss of natural fragments and exposure to pesticides can hinder the development of colonies and represent a high risk for them. Nevertheless, most studies are conducted with honeybees and there are not many studies on native species, especially in relation to the effects of fungicides on them.

Neurotoxic and respiratory effects of human use drugs on a Neotropical fish species, Phalloceros harpagos.

Pharmaceutical drugs are usually and continuously carried to the aquatic environment in different ways. Thus, they are pseudo-persistent in the environment, and they may exert deleterious effects on aquatic organisms. The objective of the present study was to investigate the acute and chronic effects of two widely used pharmaceutical drugs, paracetamol (analgesic and antipyretic) and propranolol (β-blocker) on the activity of specific biomarkers (namely cholinesterase enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase) of the neotropical fish Phalloceros harpagos.

Nanopesticide based on botanical insecticide pyrethrum and its potential effects on honeybees.

Nanotechnology has the potential to overcome the challenges of sustainable agriculture, and nanopesticides can control agricultural pests and increase farm productivity with little environmental impact. However, it is important to evaluate their toxicity on non-target organisms, such as honeybees (Apis mellifera) that forage on crops. The aims of this study were to develop a nanopesticide that was based on solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded with pyrethrum extract (PYR) and evaluate its physicochemical properties and short-term toxicity on a non-target organism (honeybee).

Late effect of larval co-exposure to the insecticide clothianidin and fungicide pyraclostrobin in Africanized Apis mellifera.

Among the factors that contribute to the reduction of honeybee populations are the pesticides. These chemical compounds reach the hive through forager bees, and once there, they can be ingested by the larvae. We evaluated the effects of repeated larval exposure to neonicotinoid insecticide, both in isolation and in combination with strobilurin fungicide, at environmentally relevant doses.

Cholinesterases characterization of three tropical fish species, and their sensitivity towards specific contaminants.

Cholinesterases are frequent targets for toxic effects, namely by insecticides derived from phosphoric and carbamic acids. This effects allows the use of cholinesterase inhibition as a biomarker for contamination of aquatic environments by these specific chemical agents. However, cholinesterases are differently responsive to environmental contaminants, according to their different forms and locations.

Exposure to thiamethoxam during the larval phase affects synapsin levels in the brain of the honey bee.

Thiamethoxam (TMX) is a neurotoxic insecticide widely used for insect pest control. TMX and other neonicotinoids are reported to be potential causes of honey bee decline. Due to its systematic action, TMX may be recovered in pollen, bee bread, nectar, and honey, which make bees likely to be exposed to contaminated diet.

Novel findings on the impact of chytridiomycosis on the cardiac function of anurans: sensitive vs. tolerant species.

Background: Understanding of the physiological effects of chytridiomycosis is crucial to worldwide amphibian conservation. Therefore, we analyzed the cardiac function of two anuran species ( and ) with different susceptibilities to infection by the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, (hereafter ).

Methods: We analyzed the heart rate ( - bpm), relative ventricular mass (RVM -%), and Ca handling in heart of infected animals compared to uninfected controls of both study species.

Behavior and histopathology as biomarkers for evaluation of the effects of paracetamol and propranolol in the neotropical fish species Phalloceros harpagos.

Pharmaceutical drugs in the aquatic environment can induce adverse effects on nontarget organisms. This study aimed to assess the short-term effects of sublethal concentrations of both paracetamol and propranolol on the fish Phalloceros harpagos, specifically light/dark preference, swimming patterns, skin pigmentation, histopathology, and liver glycogen levels. Fish were acutely exposed to sublethal concentrations of both paracetamol (0.

Assessment of biochemical alterations in the neotropical fish species Phalloceros harpagos after acute and chronic exposure to the drugs paracetamol and propranolol.

Over time, many pollutants of anthropogenic origin have caused the contamination of aquatic ecosystems. Among several characteristics, these compounds can reach the trophic chain, causing deleterious interactions with the biota. Pharmaceutical substances can be included in this scenario as emerging contaminants that reach the aquatic environment because of direct human and veterinary usage, and release by industrial effluents, as well as through domestic dumping of surplus drugs.

Cardiac biomarkers as sensitive tools to evaluate the impact of xenobiotics on amphibians: the effects of anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS).

Amphibian populations have been experiencing a drastic decline worldwide. Aquatic contaminants are among the main factors responsible for this decline, especially in the aquatic environment. The linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is of particular concern, since it represents 84% of the anionic surfactants' trade.

Thiamethoxam and picoxystrobin reduce the survival and overload the hepato-nephrocitic system of the Africanized honeybee.

Apis mellifera perform important pollination roles in agroecosystems. However, there is often intensive use of systemic pesticides in crops, which can be carried to the colony by forage bees through the collection of contaminated pollen and nectar. Inside the colony, pollen loads are stored by bees that add honey and several enzymes to this pollen.

Toxicity evaluation of vinasse and biosolid samples in diplopod midgut: heat shock protein in situ localization.

Large amounts of residues generated by agricultural, urban and industrial activities are dumped daily on the soil. This practice deserves special attention because it causes serious environmental problems. This study evaluated the toxic potential of the sugarcane vinasse, a by-product of the sugar-alcohol industry, and the biosolid, a residue produced by wastewater treatment plants, both widely used as fertilizers.

Exposure of larvae to thiamethoxam affects the survival and physiology of the honey bee at post-embryonic stages.

Under laboratory conditions, the effects of thiamethoxam were investigated in larvae, pupae and emerging honey bees after exposure at larval stages with different concentrations in the food (0.00001 ng/μL, 0.001 ng/μL and 1.

Liver alterations in Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces) induced by insecticide imidacloprid: Histopathology and heat shock protein in situ localization.

Liver is very sensitive to environmental contaminants such as pesticides, it being the first target of toxicity of a substance. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effects of the insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) on the liver of Oreochromis niloticus according concentrations used for growing sugarcane. A semi-quantitative analysis of histopathological alterations of IMI on liver was performed by light microscopy and cellular labeling of heat shock proteins (HSP70) by immunohistochemistry.

Hepatic effects of the clomazone herbicide in both its free form and associated with chitosan-alginate nanoparticles in bullfrog tadpoles.

The use of agrochemicals in agriculture is intense and most of them could be carried out to aquatic environment. Nevertheless, there are only few studies that assess the effects of these xenobiotics on amphibians. Clomazone is an herbicide widely used in rice fields, where amphibian species live.

Effects of Nosema ceranae and thiametoxam in Apis mellifera: A comparative study in Africanized and Carniolan honey bees.

Multiple stressors, such as chemicals and pathogens, are likely to be detrimental for the health and lifespan of Apis mellifera, a bee species frequently exposed to both factors in the field and inside hives. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate comparatively the health of Carniolan and Africanized honey bees (AHB) co-exposed to thiamethoxam and Nosema ceranae (N. ceranae) spores.

Impact of an environmental relevant concentration of 17α-ethinylestradiol on the cardiac function of bullfrog tadpoles.

This study evaluated if a concentration of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2 - 10 ng L(-1) for 96 h) normally found in Brazilian surface waters exerts any impact on cardiac function of bullfrog tadpoles (25 Gosner stage), Lithobates catesbeianus. During exposure, the animals' activity level (AL -% of active individuals) was monitored twice a day. Then, the in loco heart rate (f(H) - bpm) was determined, as well as the relative ventricular mass (RVM - % of body mass).