Ref ID : 6822
P. Ville, P. Roch, E.L. Cooper, and J.-F. Narbonne; Immuno-Modulator Effects of Carbaryl and 2,4-D in the Earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei. Arch.Environ.Contam.Toxicol. 32:291-297, 1997
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Carbaryl and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) exerted differential effects on the earthworm E.f. andrei functions related to immuno defense. As determined by contact test assay, carbaryl activity is characterized by a low LC50 value of 3.4 µg/cm2, compared to 18 µg/cm2 for 2,4-D. Incubating earthworms with doses of carbaryl as low as 0.1 µg/cm2 resulted in the inhibition of the lysozyme activity detected in the cytosol (CL). A strong inhibition of phagocytosis was also obtained but with 1.5 µg/cm2. On the other hand, low doses of carbaryl significantly stimulated cytolysis (0.1 µg/cm2), serine protease activity (0.1 µg/cm2) in the coelomic fluid (CF) and serine protease activity in the CL (0.05 µg/cm2). Concerning 2,4-D, both cytolysis in the CF and serine protease activity in the CL were stimulated by respectively 3.5 µg/cm2 and 18 µg/cm2. Phagocytosis was inhibited only with 18 µg/cm2. Lysozyme and serine protease inhibitor activities were not affected. The immuno toxicological assays we developed in earthworms, allow to distinguish between chemicals with different immuno-modulatory properties. Moreover, earthworms appear to be a particularly well adapted sentinel organism for the evaluation of soil contamination.