Anthelmintic effect of herbicidal dinitroanilines on the nematode model Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Dinitroanilines are known herbicides that impair the polymerization of microtubules. This study investigated the effects of oryzalin and trifluralin on the viability, morphology, and ultrastructure of different life stages of Caenorhabditis elegans. Both drugs reduced the survival of the adult population in 50% after three days of treatment with concentrations of approximately 30 μM and 57 μM, respectively. The development of new adults was monitored for seven days and treatment with both drugs also showed a decrease in the adult population. 25 μM Oryzalin or trifluralin inhibited the hatching of eggs by nearly 100%. Both drugs showed remarkable larvicidal activity at 25 μM against the larvae at first and second stages (L1–L2) and at third and fourth stages (L3–L4) after 24 h. Treatment with dinitroanilines led to incomplete egg embryo development. The oryzalin and trifluralin treatments caused the detachment of cuticular layers of adults and larvae and the formation of a large number of intracellular membrane whirls and lipid bodies in the hypodermal cells and non-contractile muscles of adults. Both drugs also provoked the bagging process, which generated lesions in the uterus of the adults. In addition, trifluralin caused the detachment of certain areas of the cuticle adjacent to the hypodermis in a large number of nematodes. Our results suggest that dinitroanilines are a potentially new alternative for anthelmintic chemotherapy.