Embriotoxicity evaluation of different pesticides (Glyphosate, Cypermethrin and Endosulfan) on Caiman latirostris: hatching success, development and DNA damage. Preliminary report.

ROMITO, ML; PABLO A. SIROSKI; G. L. POLETTA

Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Congreso; 23rd Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group; 2014

Massive use of pesticides causes several damages on wild species like Caiman latirostris in different developmental stages, being the early stage the most sensitive. Biomarkers like morphometric parameters and DNA damage are important tools for analyzing toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of in ovo exposure to pesticides (Glyphosate, Cypermethrin and Endosulfan) on hatching success, development and DNA damage. Eggs (N = 204) of C. latirostris coming from different nest were distributed into 17 experimental groups of 12 eggs each. Experimental groups were: a negative control (NC), ethanol as vehicle control , a positive control treated with 700 µg/egg of Cyclophosphamide, 4 treatments exposed to Endosulfan (1, 10, 100 and 1000 µg/egg), 4 treatments exposed to Cypermethrin (1, 10, 100 and 1000 µg/egg), and 6 treatments exposed to two Glyphosate formulations , three with Roundup® and three with PanzerGold® (500, 750 and 1000 µg/egg). After hatching, animals were weighed and measured in total length and snout-vent length. Hatching success was registered per group and blood samples obtained from all neonates to apply the Comet Assay on peripheral blood erythrocytes, as previously adapted for this species. No significant differences were found in hatching success and size of the neonates between the exposed groups and the NC for any of the pesticides and concentrations tested. DNA damage index is being analyzed now so we cannot arrive to any conclusion yet, but previous studies indicate genotoxic effects of pesticides on C. latirostris.