Title: Effects of chlorpyrifos insecticide, on cholinesterase activity and its depuration in the crab Barytelphusa guerini

Authors: Madhusudan Reddy Narra

Addresses: Department of Zoology, College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500007, Telangana, India

Abstract: Organophosphorus pesticides inhibit esterases such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes, which are widely used as biomarkers for evaluating the exposure of non-target organisms to these pollutants. In this context, we examine the tissue-specific response of AChE and BChE in fresh water field crab Barytelphusa guerini, exposed to chlorpyrifos. These esterases were measured with exposure and depuration in gills, hepatopancreas and muscle, following two sub-lethal concentrations. The esterases recovered 95% of their activity in 30 days after the transference to pesticide-free water. The present study suggests that Barytelphusa guerini may be employed as a biological indicator for assessing pesticide contamination. The results indicate that the use of pesticides in agriculture and aquaculture must be careful.

Keywords: chlorpyrifos insecticides; acetylcholinesterase; AChE; butyrylcholinesterase; BChE; Barytelphusa guerini; freshwater crabs; biomarkers; pesticides; water pollution; pesticide contamination; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2015.068413

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2015 Vol.18 No.1, pp.1 - 8

Accepted: 19 Oct 2014
Published online: 06 May 2015 *

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