Low, Chronic Exposure to Endosulfan Induces Bioaccumulation and Decreased Carcass Total Fatty Acids in Neotropical Fruit Bats.

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2016 Sep 3. [Epub ahead of print]

Brinati A¹, Oliveira JM², Oliveira VS¹, Barros MS¹, Carvalho BM¹, Oliveira LS¹, Queiroz ME¹, Matta SL¹, Freitas MB¹.

Author information

• ¹Federal University of Viçosa, Vicosa, Brazil.
• ²Federal University of Viçosa, Vicosa, Brazil. oliveira.jerusam@gmail.com.

Abstract

We investigated the effects of the insecticide endosulfan on energy metabolism and its possible accumulation in fruit bats. Adult male bats (Artibeus lituratus) were exposed for 35 days, when they were offered fruit treated with endosulfan (E) and adhesive spreader (AS) in the following concentrations (g/L): 0.0; 0.0 (Control), 0.0; 0.015 (AS), 1.05; 0.015 (E1), 2.1; 0.015 (E2). Concentrations used were those recommended by the manufacturer for fruit crop application (E1) or twice this value (E2). E1 bats showed decreased plasma glucose concentration. Carcass fatty acids were decreased in E1 and E2 bats. Endosulfan bioaccumulation was observed in both liver and adipose tissues from E1 and E2 bats. These results indicate that the chronic exposure of fruit bats to environmentally relevant concentrations of endosulfan can lead to significant bioaccumulation beyond control and also decreased fatty acid content, which may impair the health of this important seed disperser in neotropical forests.

KEYWORDS:

Artibeus lituratus; Carcass fatty acids; Gas chromatograph; Metabolism; Organochlorine