Genotoxic evaluation of neonates and adults fo tegu lizard (Salvator merianae) environmental exposed to pesticides in agricultural areas of Santa Fe province

LAURA G. SCHAUMBURG; GISELA L. POLETTA; PABLO A. SIROSKI; MARTA D. MUDRY

Santa Fe

Otro; Actualización en Mecanismos de Daño y Reparación del ADN; 2014

Fac. de Bioquímica y Cs. Biológicas, UNL

The natural habitat of tegu lizard in the Argentinian Santa Fe province is fragmented due to agricultural expansion. Nesting sites are restricted to few areas of vegetation remaining in these environments. The overlap of tegu lizard breeding season with the period of agrochemical application including Glyphosate (2%/ha), Cypermethrin (0.12%/ha) and Endosulfan (0.85%/ha) formulations in agricultural areas increases the risk of lizards to exposure at all stages of their life. We consider essential the status monitoring of this reptile species in their habitat. So, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the genotoxicity induced in tegu lizard neonates and adult environmentally exposed to pesticides used in agriculture. We collected eggs (n = 24) and sampled adult animals (n = 14; 11 females / 3 males) from an area far from crops (control area) and from areas surrounded by cultivated fields (exposed area). Blood samples were obtained from all animal (neonates and adults) and three genotoxicity biomarkers were applied in peripheral blood erythrocytes: Comet assay (CA), Micronucleus test (MN) and Nuclear abnormalities (NA). The MN and NA frequency (n° cell with MN or NA/1000 cells) and DNA damage index (DI=1+2.n2+3.n3+4.n4) were calculated. The results showed a significant higher DNA damage index, MN frequency and presence of Nuclear buds in exposed newborns when we compare to those from the control areas (p 0.05). These results support our hypothesis about the risk of exposure to pesticides in the natural geographic distribution of Salvator maerianae, mainly for embryos, evidenced by the genotoxic damage observed in their blood cells.