Abstract
Procaine penicillin (PP) is a β-lactam antibiotic widely used in human and veterinary medicine. Although PP is detected in surface water, little is known on its effects on aquatic invertebrates. Our aim was to determine the influence of PP on swimming behaviour (track density, swimming speed, turning angle, hopping frequency) and physiological activity (oxygen consumption, heart rate, thoracic limb movement) of a freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna exposed to PP at concentrations of 11.79 mg/L, 117.9 mg/L and 1179 mg/L for 2 h and 24 h. The results showed no mortality; however, reduction of swimming activity manifested by the decreased track density, swimming speed and turning angle noted in Daphnia exposed to all the concentrations of PP. Increase of oxygen consumption was observed after 2-h exposure; however, decrease of this parameter was found after 24 h. PP also reduced heart rate and thoracic limb movement in a concentration-dependent manner. The results suggest that the antibiotic should not induce mortality; however, it may affect swimming behaviour and physiological parameters of Daphnia magna particularly inhabiting aquaculture facilities with intensive antibiotic treatment. On the basis of the present results, we also suggest higher sensitivity of behavioural and physiological parameters of cladocerans than the commonly used endpoints: mortality or immobilisation and their possible application as a part of early warning systems in monitoring of surface water toxicity.
Highlights
Pharmaceuticals used in human and veterinary medicine are frequently detected in the aquatic environment or in the effluents from water treatment plants (Richardson and Brown 1985; Moulin et al 2008)
Oxygen consumption was determined with Oxygraph plus system (Hansatech Instruments) according to previously published methods (Soucek 2006; Soucek et al 2010) with some modifications. 10 daphnids were transfered to the oxygraph electrode chamber containing 1 ml of medium with appropriate concentration of the antibiotic and the oxygen consumption was measured for 30 min
This study showed that Procaine penicillin (PP) affected sensitive biomarkers of swimming behaviour, physiological parameters of Daphnia magna in a time- and concentrationdependent manner
Summary
Pharmaceuticals used in human and veterinary medicine are frequently detected in the aquatic environment or in the effluents from water treatment plants (Richardson and Brown 1985; Moulin et al 2008). PP is one of the most commonly used antibiotics in the USA and Europe (Moulin et al 2008), a number of side effects in the central nervous system in both humans and animals including seizures and other abnormalities were described (Paine Jr 1978; Araskiewicz and Rybakowski 1994). This drug was demonstrated to affect the nervous system of aquatic invertebrates. A convulsing effect due to the interference with membrane conductance to chloride was observed in PP-treated California sea hare Aplysia californica (Pellmar and Wilson 1977)
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