Evaluation of environmental safety and biological efficacy of ectoparasiticide in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

Abstract

Among the main problems during the productive cycle of fish, the occurrence of ecto and endoparasites causes economic losses due to the mortalities in the stages of larviculture, raising and in the initial phases of fattening. Among the parasites of fish can be highlighted: the monogenetic ones that present great diversity in number, morphology and ecology. Organophosphorus compounds have been widely used as insecticides, acaricides and anthelmintic compounds for decades in world aquaculture. Among the drugs with potential to be used as ectoparasiticide is the azamethiphos organophosphate used as a moderately toxic, non-bioaccumulative, highly water-soluble, volatile insecticide and should not be leached into groundwater. It is a neurotoxic chemical and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. The major problem in the use of drugs in fish farming are the possible effects on non-target aquatic organisms of drug use. The use of bioindicators has been increasing in ecotoxicology. These organisms represent an economical alternative for the estimation of environmental toxicity in sublethal doses by means of biological assays. Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is a freshwater fish belonging to the Serrasalmidae family, occurring naturally in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The objective of this project will be to evaluate the acute toxicity of azametiphs for non-target macrophytes, Lemna minor and Azolla caroliniana, for mollusk Pomacea canaliculata and zebrafish (Danio rerio); evaluate the acute and chronic toxicity of the target organism, tambaqui fish (Colossoma macropomum); Histopathological and hematological analysis of the acute and chronic toxicity test of azamethiphos for the target organism, tambaqui (C. macropomum). Carry out analyzes of protein expression to evaluate the degradation of the acetylcholine of the tambaqui fish (C. macropomum) after the azamethip application. (AU)