The lizard Salvator merianae (Squamata, Teiidae) as a valid indicator in toxicological studies

GISELA L. POLETTA; PABLO A. SIROSKI; MARTA D. MUDRY

Issues in Toxicology 32. Ecotoxicology and Genotoxicology: Non-traditional Terrestrial Models

Royal Society of Chemistry

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2017; p. 228 - 251

Environmental contaminants produce multiple consequences at different levels, with a diversity of impact development of organisms. According to agricultural expansion, high volumes of pesticides could generate a risk to wildlife and their impact is remains poorly studied. The growing intensity of such holdings would significantly disrupt the diversity and variability of resources.Salvator merianae appears in a variety of environments and ussually lives under the pressure for agricultural productivity are matched with increased pollution. The lack of toxicological research in different species of lizards has increased in recent years, even tegu lizard (S. merianae). This species is the larger lizard from South America, widely distributed in natural and anthropogenic environments. In Argentina, there is important population of this lizard and based on that, is approached under sustainable use programs. This fact acts as an advantage due to easy access to specimens in their natural habitat. Lack of information about genotoxicity studies, together with environmental degradation as a result of the utilization of pesticide, led us to begin a monitoring study in the tegu lizard. We have adapted techniques for genotoxicity evaluation and determined baseline DNA damage in peripheral blood erythrocytes. Then, we used these biomarkers to evaluate the effects induced by embryonic exposure to glyphosate commercial formulations in laboratory controlled conditions, as well as the effects of pesticide mixtures under semi-natural exposure conditions and environmentally exposed in their natural habitat. A close monitoring of wild populations should be periodically conducted because they are exposed different agrochemicals used in soybean, maize, and other crops, and regarding its potential in promoting damage in the genetic material and other organs systems have to be considered of primary importance.