Exposure to the insecticide endosulfan induces liver morphology alterations and oxidative stress in fruit‐eating bats (Artibeus lituratus)

Abstract

Exposure to pesticides may increase the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidation of cell membrane lipids and proteins. Although fruit bats are potentially exposed to pesticides during their entire lifespan, the impacts of this exposure are still poorly investigated. We examined the effects of low, commercially recommended concentrations (0, 1.05 and 2.1 g/l) of an organochlorine insecticide endosulfan (EDS) formulation on oxidative responses in the liver and kidneys of Neotropical fruit bats (Artibeus lituratus), as well as possible liver morphological alterations following a 35-day oral exposure. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly decreased upon exposure to 1.05 g/l of EDS in the liver and kidneys, catalase was decreased in the liver of 2.1 g/l EDS-exposed bats, while glutathione S-transferase was increased in the liver of 2.1 g/l EDS-exposed bats. Protein carbonyls increased following the exposure to the highest EDS dose tested. Endosulfan-induced morphological alterations in the liver included cell degeneration and cell death, with apparent cytoplasm lipid accumulation (steatosis) and pyknotic nuclei, karyolysis and deposit of collagen fibres. Our findings suggest that exposure to low concentrations of EDS induced a certain extent of oxidative damage in fruit bats, which may have led to liver morphological alterations.

Efficacy of Withania somnifera on lipid profile of endosulfan induced toxicity in Swiss albino mice

“…A study has also reported the increased level of serum cholesterol levels due to phenol induced toxicity in Oreochromis niloticus causing impairment in the membrane organization (Gad and Saad 2008;Vinson et al, 2001). Endosulfan also causes oxidative damage to the membrane due release of ROS leading to lipid peroxidation (Hincal et al, 1995;El-Shenawy 2010;Oliveira et al,2017). This altogether causes the onset of pathogenesis, causing disease in the animal (Di Rosa et al 1971;Kobliakov et al,2001;Sood et al 2009).…”

Pesticide Exposure Risks to Chiropteran Species and the Impacts on Emerging Zoonotic Diseases

“…Two studies conducted in the fruit bat A. lituratus measured oxidative stress when exposed to fruit sprayed with the organochlorine insecticide endosulfan and the pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin. The metabolism of the pesticides increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide leading to liver morphological changes [102] and oxidative damage to both liver and the pectoral muscle [102,103]. Since fruit bats are believed to be highly resistant to oxidative stress in part due to the high level of antioxidants in their diet [104], this finding is significant.…”

How do pesticides affect bats? – A brief review of recent publications

“…Exposure to organochlorines also caused several pathologies in bats' liver, such as vacuolization, necrosis and apoptosis (Amaral et al, 2012a, b;Oliveira et al, 2017). In addition, they induced oxidative stress (Oliveira et al, 2018) and decreased the total hepatic antioxidant capacity (Oliveira et al, 2017), which, depending on the severity of the liver lesions, can cause death (Dennis and Gartrell, 2015).…”