Effects of the veterinary pharmaceutical ivermectin in indoor aquatic microcosms

The combined effect of bromadiolone and ivermectin (iBr) in controlling both rodents and their fleas

Rodent pests not only cause severe agricultural loss but also spread zoonotic pathogens to human beings. Anticoagulant rodenticides are widely used to decrease the population densities of rodents but often lead to the spillover of ectoparasites because fleas and ticks may gather on surviving rodents. Therefore, it is necessary to kill fleas and ticks before culling rodents to minimize the risk of pathogen transmission. In this study, we used a mixture of ivermectin (an antiparasitic drug) and bromadiolone (an anticoagulant rodenticide) to control both rodent and flea/tick abundances. We found that in a laboratory test, 0.01% ivermectin bait was not lethal for greater long-tailed hamsters after 7 days of treatment, while 0.1% ivermectin bait was lethal for approximately 33% of treated rodents. In a field test, bait containing 0.001%, 0.005%, 0.01%, and 0.05% ivermectin decreased the number of fleas per vole of Brandt's voles to 0.42, 0.22, 0.12, and 0.2, respectively, compared with 0.77 in the control group, indicating that 0.01% ivermectin bait performed best in removing fleas. In another laboratory test, bait containing a 0.01% ivermectin and 0.005% bromadiolone mixture caused the death of all voles within 6-14 days after the intake of the bait. In the field test, the bait containing 0.01% ivermectin and 0.005% bromadiolone reduced the average number of fleas per vole to 0.35, which was significantly lower than the 0.77 of the control group. Our results indicate that a 0.01% ivermectin and 0.005% bromadiolone mixture could be used to control both rodents and fleas to minimize the spillover risk of disease transmission when using traditional rodenticides.

A review on the ecotoxicity of macrocyclic lactones and benzimidazoles on aquatic organisms

Despite its wide production and several applications, veterinary antiparasitics from macrocyclic lactones and benzimidazole classes have not received much scientific attention concerning their environmental risks. Thus, we aimed to provide insights into the state of the environmental research on macrocyclic lactone and benzimidazole parasiticides, emphasizing their toxicity to non-target aquatic organisms. We searched for relevant information on these pharmaceutical classes on PubMed and Web of Science. Our search yielded a total of 45 research articles. Most articles corresponded to toxicity testing (n = 29), followed by environmental fate (n = 14) and other issues (n = 2) of selected parasiticides. Macrocyclic lactones were the most studied chemical group (65% of studies). Studies were conducted mainly with invertebrate taxa (70%), with crustaceans being the most predominant group (n = 27; 51%). Daphnia magna was the most used species (n = 8; 15%). Besides, it also proved to be the most sensitive organism, yielding the lowest toxicity measure (EC₅₀ 0.25 μg/L for decreased mobility after 48 h-abamectin exposure) reported. Moreover, most studies were performed in laboratory settings, tracking a limited number of endpoints (acute mortality, immobility, and community disturbance). We posit that macrocyclic lactones and benzimidazoles warrant coordinated action to understand their environmental risks.

Synergistic effects of EP-1 and ivermectin mixture (iEP-1) to control rodents and their ectoparasites

BACKGROUND

Ectoparasites of rodents play significant roles in disease transmission to humans. Conventional poisoning potentially reduces the population densities of rodents, however, they may increase the ectoparasite loads on the surviving hosts. EP-1 has been shown to have anti-fertility effects on many rodent species, while ivermectin is effective in controlling ectoparasites. In this study, we examined the combined effects of EP-1 and ivermectin mixture (iEP-1) baits on rodents and their corresponding flea/tick loads.

RESULTS

In males, the weight of testis, epididymis, and seminiferous vesicle were reduced to less than 33%, 25%, and 17%, respectively, compared to the control group following administration of iEP-1 for 7 days. The weight of the uterus increased by approximately 75%. After 5 days of iEP-1 intake, all ticks were killed, whereas 94% of fleas on mice died after 3 days of bait intake. In the field test near Beijing, the flea index was reduced by more than 90% after 7 days of iEP-1 bait delivery. In a field test in Inner Mongolia, the weights of testis, epididymis, and seminiferous vesicle were significantly reduced by 27%, 32%, and 57%, respectively, 2 weeks after iEP-1 bait delivery. Approximately 36% rodents exhibited obvious uterine oedema accompanied by a weight increase of about 150%. The flea index was reduced by over 90%.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that iEP-1 is a promising treatment for reducing the abundance of both small rodents and their ectoparasites; this will be effective for managing rodent damage and transmission of rodent-borne diseases associated with fleas and ticks. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of sublethal concentrations of the antiparasitic ivermectin on the polychaeta species Hediste diversicolor: biochemical and behavioral responses

Pharmaceutical drugs have emerged as major micropollutants in aquatic ecosystems. Their presence has been systematically reported in monitoring surveys, and their wide distribution and constant presence in the wild is a direct consequence of their massive use, in both human and veterinary therapeutics. Drugs used to treat parasitic infections in livestock are major contaminants, given the amounts in which they are administered, and reach the aquatic compartment in high amounts, where they may affect non target species. Some of these drugs are prone to find their final deposit in sediments of estuarine areas, exerting their toxic effects preferentially at these locations. Sediment dwelling organisms of coastal areas, such as polychaetas, are especially prone to have their major physiological functions compromised after being exposed to pharmaceutical drugs. Ivermectin is one of the most used antiparasitic drugs, and its effects are not limited to biochemical traits, but also behavioral features may be compromised considering their neurotoxic actions. Despite these putative effects, little is known about their toxicity on polychaetas. The present study aimed to characterize the toxicity of realistic levels of ivermectin on the polychaeta Hediste diversicolor, in biochemical and behavioral terms. The obtained results showed that low levels of ivermectin are capable of causing significant disturbances in mobility and burrowing activity of exposed worms, as well as alterations of metabolic and anti-oxidant defense efficacy of exposed animals, suggesting that its environmental presence may mean a major environmental concern.

Toxic Effects of Fine Plant Powder Impregnated With Avermectins on Mosquito Larvae and Nontarget Aquatic Invertebrates

The toxic effects of an avermectin-impregnated fine plant powder (AIFP) against larval Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae), Culex modestus Ficalbi (Diptera: Culicidae), and Anopheles messeae Falleroni (Diptera: Culicidae), as well as selected nontarget aquatic invertebrates, were studied under laboratory conditions. The possibility of trophic transfer of avermectins (AVMs) through the food chain and their toxic effects on predaceous species fed AIFP-treated mosquito larvae was also evaluated. Among mosquitoes, Anopheles messeae were the most sensitive to AIFP, while Cx. modestus exhibited the least sensitivity to this formulation. Among nontarget aquatic invertebrates, the greatest toxicity of AIFP was observed for benthic species (larval Chironomus sp. Meigen (Diptera: Chironomidae), whereas predators (dragonflies, water beetles, and water bugs) exhibited the lowest AIFP sensitivity. AIFP sensitivity of the clam shrimp Lynceus brachyurus O. F. Muller (Diplostraca: Lynceidae), the phantom midge Chaoborus crystallinus De Geer (Diptera: Chaoboridae), and the mayfly Caenis robusta Eaton (Ephemeroptera: Caenidae) was intermediate and similar to the sensitivity of the mosquito Cx. modestus. However, these nontarget species were more resistant than An. messeae and Ae. aegypti. Solid-phase extraction of mosquito larvae treated with AIFP and subsequent high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the extracts revealed an AVM concentration of up to 2.1 ± 0.3 μg/g. Feeding the creeping water bug Ilyocoris cimicoides L. (Hemiptera: Naucoridae) on the AIFP-treated mosquito larvae resulted in 51% mortality of the predaceous species. But no toxicity was observed for Aeshna mixta Latreille (Odonata: Aeshnidae) dragonfly larvae fed those mosquito larvae. The results of this work showed that this AVM formulation can be effective against mosquito larvae.

Ecotoxic response of nematodes to ivermectin, a potential anti-COVID-19 drug treatment

At the end of March 2020, ivermectin was confirmed as a drug for COVID-19 treatment. A significant amount of ivermectin could deposit into sediments of the semi-closed Mediterranean Sea, where three European COVID-19 epicenters are located: Italy, Spain, and France. Meiobenthic nematodes were exposed to three ivermectin doses (1.8 ng.g^-1, 9 ng.g^-1, and 18 ng.g^-1) for 10 days. Ivermectin caused a great reduction in abundance. However, the diversity indices decreased only at high doses. Ivermectin disadvantaged the 1B-Cr-Id functional type (non-selective deposit feeders and nematodes with circular or indistinct amphids) and benefited the 2A-REL-Sp type (epistrate feeders and nematodes with rounded or elongated loop amphids). Thus, Trophic Diversity and Amphideal Diversity index values increased with sedimentary ivermectin enrichment. Large amphideal foveas were more efficient for 2A-REL-Sp nematodes to avoid ivermectin. The responses of the functional type 2A-REL-Sp and corresponding taxa predict post-COVID-19 environmental concerns and the bioaccumulation of ivermectin in seafoods.

Oxidative stress, biochemical, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant responses in Clarias gariepinus exposed to acute concentrations of ivermectin

The short-term effects of ivermectin (IVMT) on the oxidative stress and biochemical parameters of Clarias gariepinus juvenile was assessed under semi-static conditions at concentrations of 9 to 25 μg L^-1 for up to 4 days. Juveniles were highly sensitive to ivermectin, with an LC₅₀ of 15 μg L^-1.The antioxidant enzyme profile assessed included glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT). General stress biomarkers such as serum glucose, protein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also determined at 24-h, 48-h, 72-h, and 96-h exposure durations. Lipid peroxidation showed significant (p < 0.05) decreases in higher concentrations (21 μg L^-1and 25 μg L^-1) and durations of exposure (72 h and 96 h). Significant concentration-dependent increases (p < 0.05) were recorded in the liver function enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) when compared to the control. GPx decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in higher concentrations (21 μg L^-1and 25 μg L^-1) and durations of exposure (48-96 h). Protein showed significant concentration-dependent decreases, while glucose recorded a mixed trend. The changes in the hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities and serum metabolites were indicative of oxidative stress induced by IVMT. This showed that IVMT is toxic to fish and should be used with utmost caution.

A standardized tritrophic small-scale system (TriCosm) for the assessment of stressor-induced effects on aquatic community dynamics

Chemical impacts on the environment are routinely assessed in single-species tests. They are employed to measure direct effects on nontarget organisms, but indirect effects on ecological interactions can only be detected in multispecies tests. Micro- and mesocosms are more complex and environmentally realistic, yet they are less frequently used for environmental risk assessment because resource demand is high, whereas repeatability and statistical power are often low. Test systems fulfilling regulatory needs (i.e., standardization, repeatability, and replication) and the assessment of impacts on species interactions and indirect effects are lacking. In the present study we describe the development of the TriCosm, a repeatable aquatic multispecies test with 3 trophic levels and increased statistical power. High repeatability of community dynamics of 3 interacting aquatic populations (algae, Ceriodaphnia, and Hydra) was found with an average coefficient of variation of 19.5% and the ability to determine small effect sizes. The TriCosm combines benefits of both single-species tests (fulfillment of regulatory requirements) and complex multispecies tests (ecological relevance) and can be used, for instance, at an intermediate tier in environmental risk assessment. Furthermore, comparatively quickly generated population and community toxicity data can be useful for the development and testing of mechanistic effect models. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1051-1060. © 2017 SETAC.

Transport of oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and ivermectin in surface runoff from irrigated pasture

The transport of oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and ivermectin from manure was assessed via surface runoff on irrigated pasture. Surface runoff plots in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California were used to evaluate the effects of irrigation water application rates, pharmaceutical application conditions, vegetative cover, and vegetative filter strip length on the pharmaceutical discharge in surface runoff. Experiments were designed to permit the maximum potential transport of pharmaceuticals to surface runoff water, which included pre-irrigation to saturate soil, trimming grass where manure was applied, and laying a continuous manure strip perpendicular to the flow of water. However, due to high sorption of the pharmaceuticals to manure and soil, less than 0.1% of applied pharmaceuticals were detected in runoff water. Results demonstrated an increase of pharmaceutical transport in surface runoff with increased pharmaceutical concentration in manure, the concentration of pharmaceuticals in runoff water remained constant with increased irrigation flow rate, and no appreciable decrease in pharmaceutical runoff was produced with the vegetative filter strip length increased from 30.5 to 91.5 cm. Most of the applied pharmaceuticals were retained in the manure or within the upper 5 cm of soil directly beneath the manure application sites. As this study evaluated conditions for high transport potential, the data suggest that the risk for significant chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, and ivermectin transport to surface water from cattle manure on irrigated pasture is low.

Multilevel assessment of ivermectin effects using different zebrafish life stages

Several studies have shown high toxicity of the veterinary pharmaceutical ivermectin (a semisynthetic avermectin) for aquatic invertebrates however, few data is found for fish species. The present study evaluated the toxicity of ivermectin, to embryos, juveniles, and adults of zebrafish at different levels of biological organization including developmental, behavioural and biochemical. Toxicity tests were performed based on OECD protocols and mortality and behavioural changes were assed for all stages. Biochemical responses were assessed in adults and embryos and included cholinesterases (ChEs), catalase (CAT) (only in embryos), glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and vitellogenin (VTG) like proteins (only in embryos). Genotoxicity was evaluated in adults. Results showed a higher sensitivity of juvenile and adults of zebrafish (96h-LC10 values of 14.0 and 55.4μg/L, respectively). For embryos a 96h-LC10 of 147.1μg/L was calculated, moreover developmental anomalies and hatching inhibition were observed only at high concentrations (>400μg/L), whereas biochemical and behavioural responses occurred at lower concentrations (<60μg/L). Behavioural responses (lethargy) occurred in all life stages. Biochemical responses were observed including the inhibition of GST in adults and changes in ChE, CAT, LDH activities and VTG levels in embryos. Ivermectin did not show to be genotoxic for adult fish. The species sensitivity distribution analysis, based on fish and invertebrate species, indicated a Hazardous Concentration for 5% of the population (HC5) value of 0.057μg/L; suggesting high sensitivity of both groups to ivermectin and a high risk of this compound to aquatic ecosystems.

Effects of ivermectin on Danio rerio: a multiple endpoint approach: behaviour, weight and subcellular markers

Ivermectin (IVM) is a broad acting antihelmintic used in various veterinary pharmaceuticals. It has been shown that IVM enters the aquatic compartment and adversely affects organisms including fish. This study is based on the hypothesis that long term exposure to IVM affects fish and thus, the main objective was to assess the chronic effects of 0.25 and 25 µg IVM/L to zebrafish using multiple endpoints representative of several levels of biological organization: weight, behaviour (swimming and feeding) and subcellular markers including biomarkers for oestrogenicity (vitellogenin-VTG), oxidative stress (catalase-CAT and glutathione-S-transferase-GST) and neurotransmission (cholinesterase-ChE). Concentrations as low as 0.25 µg IVM/L disrupted the swimming behaviour, causing fish to spend more time at the bottom of aquaria. Such reduction of the swimming performance affected the feeding ability which is likely responsible for the weight loss. The effects on weight were gender differentiated, being more pronounced in males (0.25 µg IVM/L) than in females (25 µg IVM/L). Fish exposed to 25 µg/L exhibited darker coloration and mild curvature of the spine. No effects on VTG and AChE were observed, but a reduction on CAT and GST levels was observed in fish exposed to 25 µg IVM/L, although these alterations probably only reflect the general condition of the fish which was significantly compromised at this concentration. Despite that predicted environmental concentrations of IVM are below 0.25 µg/L, the behavioural effects may be translated into important ecological impacts, e.g. at predator-prey interactions where fish competitive advantage can be decreased. Future work should address the link between behaviour disruption and population fitness. The current study was based on a one experiment and multiple endpoint (anchored) approach, allowing the results to be integrated and linked towards a mechanistic understanding.

Fate of ivermectin in the terrestrial and aquatic environment: mobility, degradation, and toxicity towards Daphnia similis

Ivermectin (IVM) is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug that is regularly employed in veterinary medicine. In this work, the sorption and desorption of IVM in two Brazilian soils (N1-sand and S2-clay) as well as its leaching capacity, dissipation under aerobic conditions, and degradation in aqueous solution by photocatalysis with TiO2 in suspension were evaluated. The kinetic sorption curves of IVM were adjusted to a pseudo-second-order model. The sorption and desorption data were well fitted with the Freundlich isotherms in the log form (r > 0.96). The Freundlich sorption coefficient (K F (ads) ) and the Freundlich desorption coefficient (K F (des) ) were 77.7 and 120 μg(1-1/n) (cm(3))(1/n) g(-1) and 74.5 and 138 μg(1-1/n) (cm(3))(1/n) g(-1), for soils N1 and S2, respectively. A greater leaching capacity of IVM was observed for the sandy soil N1 than for the clay soil S2. Under aerobic conditions, the dissipation (DT50) at 19.3 °C was 15.5 days (soil N1) and 11.5 days (soil S2). Photocatalysis with UVC and TiO2 in suspension resulted in the degradation of 98 % of IVM (500 μg L(-1)) in water in 600 s. The toxicity (Daphnia similis) of the solutions submitted to the photocatalytic process was completely eliminated after 10 min.

Acute Toxicity and Environmental Risks of Five Veterinary Pharmaceuticals for Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

Due to the high use of antibiotics and antiparasitics for the treatment of livestock, there is concern about the potential impacts of the release of these compounds into freshwater ecosystems. In this context, the present study quantified the acute toxicity of two antibiotics (sulfadiazine and sulfadimidine), and three antiparasitic agents (flubendazole, fenbendazole, ivermectin) for nine freshwater invertebrate species. These experiments revealed a low degree of toxicity for the sulfonamide antibiotics, with limited implications in the survival of all test species at the highest test concentrations (50 and 100 mg/L). In contrast, all three antiparasitic agents indicated on the basis of their acute toxicity risks for the aquatic environment. Moreover, chronic toxicity data from the literature for antiparasitics, including effects on reproduction in daphnids, support the concern about the integrity of aquatic ecosystems posed by releases of these compounds. Thus, these pharmaceuticals warrant further careful consideration by environmental risk managers.

Probabilistic risk assessment of veterinary medicines applied to four major aquaculture species produced in Asia

Aquaculture production constitutes one of the main sources of pollution with veterinary medicines into the environment. About 90% of the global aquaculture production is produced in Asia and the potential environmental risks associated with the use of veterinary medicines in Asian aquaculture have not yet been properly evaluated. In this study we performed a probabilistic risk assessment for eight different aquaculture production scenarios in Asia by combining up-to-date information on the use of veterinary medicines and aquaculture production characteristics. The ERA-AQUA model was used to perform mass balances of veterinary medicinal treatments applied to aquaculture ponds and to characterize risks for primary producers, invertebrates, and fish potentially exposed to chemical residues through aquaculture effluents. The mass balance calculations showed that, on average, about 25% of the applied drug mass to aquaculture ponds is released into the environment, although this percentage varies with the chemical's properties, the mode of application, the cultured species density, and the water exchange rates in the aquaculture pond scenario. In general, the highest potential environmental risks were calculated for parasitic treatments, followed by disinfection and antibiotic treatments. Pangasius catfish production in Vietnam, followed by shrimp production in China, constitute possible hot-spots for environmental pollution due to the intensity of the aquaculture production and considerable discharge of toxic chemical residues into surrounding aquatic ecosystems. A risk-based ranking of compounds is provided for each of the evaluated scenarios, which offers crucial information for conducting further chemical and biological field and laboratory monitoring research. In addition, we discuss general knowledge gaps and research priorities for performing refined risk assessments of aquaculture medicines in the near future.

Sorption, Leaching, and Surface Runoff of Beef Cattle Veterinary Pharmaceuticals under Simulated Irrigated Pasture Conditions

The use of veterinary pharmaceuticals in beef cattle has led to concerns associated with the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria and endocrine disruption in aquatic organisms. Despite the potential negative consequences, data on the transport and mitigation of pharmaceuticals in grazed watersheds with irrigated pasture are scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the transport of common beef cattle pharmaceuticals (oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and ivermectin) via surface runoff and leachate from manure amended to grass-vegetated soil boxes under irrigated pasture conditions. The transport of pharmaceuticals from animal manure in surface runoff and soil leachate was relatively low and appears to be limited by desorption and transport of pharmaceuticals entrained in the manure. In surface runoff, less than 4.2% of applied pharmaceuticals in manure (initial concentration: 0.2 mg kg of manure) was detected after 3 wk of irrigation. Concentrations of pharmaceuticals in surface runoff and leachate never exceeded 0.5 μg L. The major portion of pharmaceuticals (up to 99%) was retained in the manure or in the soil directly beneath the manure application site. Based on the minimal transport of oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and ivermectin, the risk of significant transport for these targeted beef cattle pharmaceuticals to surface water and groundwater from manure on irrigated pasture appears to be relatively low.