The potential effect of Moringa oleifera ethanolic leaf extract against oxidative stress, immune response disruption induced by abamectin exposure in Oreochromis niloticus.

Abamectin (ABM), a naturally fermented product of Streptomyces avermitilis, is applied to pest control in livestock and agriculture fields. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the protective effects of Moringa oleifera leaf ethanolic extract (MOE) on biochemical changes including oxidative stress indices, immune response marker, lipid profiles as well as mRNA expression of immune related genes, and abamectin (ABM, 5% EC) residue levels in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to a sub-lethal concentration (0.5 µg/l) for 28 days. Disturbance in liver and kidney biomarkers was markedly increased in ABM-exposed fish compared to the control group. Malondialdehyde levels in the liver and brain tissues, as well as the activities of glutathione-s-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxides, all increased significantly in ABM group. Additionally, ABM exposure increased the levels of interleukin 10 beta and growth factor gene expression. On the other hand, fish exposed to ABM had significantly lower serum alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, high-density lipoprotein, glutathione peroxides in brain, glutathione in liver and brain tissues, lysozyme activity, nitric oxide, immunoglobulin M, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin 1 beta as compared to the control group. The recorded detrimental effects of ABM on tilapia have been overcome by the addition of MOE to the diet (1%) and ameliorating hepato-renal damage and enhancing antioxidant activity, innate immune responses, and upregulating the anti-inflammatory gene expression. Therefore, it could be concluded that MOE dietary supplementation at 1% could be used to counteract the oxidative stress, immune response disruption induced by abamectin exposure in Oreochromis niloticus, and reduce its accumulation in fish tissues.

Biosafety evaluation of two Beauveria bassiana products on female albino rats using acute oral test.

Application of bio-pesticides in agriculture has been developed as alternative agents to conventional pesticides due to residues accumulating which causing detrimental effects to human and environment. The aim of this investigation is to evaluate biosafety of a bio-insecticide Beauveria bassiana using two products in female rats by single oral dose through hepato- and renal toxicity, hematotoxicity and lipid profile. The two products from B. bassiana (AUMC 9896) were metabolic crude (MC), and wettable powder formulation (WP) of the local isolate. Results showed a significant increase in values of erythrocytes (RBCs), leucocytes (WBCs), platelet count (Plt) and the absolute differential WBC counts. Liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP) and globulin (Glb) content were reduced in the exposed female rats with both types of B. bassiana in comparison to controls. While ratio of AST/ALT and A/G, total protein level (TP) and albumin (Alb) were raised in Beauveria bassiana -treated rats (Bb - treated rats). Urea and creatinine concentrations decreased or increased significantly in treated rats. Moreover, there was a decline in the serum of lipid profiles in WP - treated rats, but LDL levels increased in all treated animal. Additionally, no mortality or toxicity in all treated. All animals treated showed non-significant modifications in body weight gain and a slight change in relative liver weights when compared to controls. These results suggest that both treatments effect markedly on function and somatic index of the liver and slight effects on CBC and lipid profile aspects of treated female rats.

Risk assessment induced by knapsack or conventional motor sprayer on pesticides applicators and farm workers in cotton season.

Fakous Province in the Sharkia Governorate constitutes one of the largest agricultural areas in Egypt. The majority of people in this province rely on subsistence agriculture. In the cotton cultivation season the continuous application of pesticides is commonly used to increase agricultural productivity, using different types of spraying equipment. In this study a cohort of 210 intensive agricultural pesticide applicators and farm workers from Sawada and Akyad Elkepplia villages in Fakous Province were assessed according to the type of spraying equipment they used. Conventional motor (300l/feddan or 0.42ha) and knapsack motor sprayer (20l/feddan) were commonly used by farmers. Contamination on applicators was detected on head, body (thorax/abdomen) and legs at different percentages according to the spraying tools. The recorded results revealed that contamination with pesticides due to knapsack motor sprayers 0.76% on head, 4.8% on body and 5.8% on legs; however, conventional motor sprayers induce contamination of 3.6% on head, 23.7% on body and 29.1% on legs. Several criteria for estimating pesticide contamination by previous delivery systems were used. The most important reference biomarker was serum acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) depression. Sprayers showed changes in serum glucose levels as well as reduced erythrocytic glutathione levels (GSH). However, an increase in both total serum protein and albumin was recorded also, alongside elevation in lipid peroxidation biomarker malondialdehyde (MDA). Changes in serum biochemistry regarding enzymes reflecting cytotoxicity were also recorded, such as inhibition of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). An increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutathione reductase (GR) was observed particularly in conventional motor sprayers. Changes in enzymes activities found in this study are linked to the adverse health effects related to chronic pesticide toxicity that may lead to pathophysiological diseases, cancer or neurodegenerative disorders, which warrants further investigation.