Abstract
Erythromycin is a widely used antibiotic, and erythromycin contamination may pose a threat to aquatic organisms. However, little is known about the adverse effects of erythromycin on swimming ability. To quantify erythromycin-induced damage to fish swimming ability, Oryzias latipes and Danio rerio were acutely exposed to erythromycin. The swimming ability of the experimental fish was measured after exposure to varying doses of erythromycin (2 µg/L, 20 µg/L, 200 µg/L, and 2 mg/L) for 96 h. Burst speed (Uburst) and critical swimming speed (Ucrit) of experimental fish significantly decreased. In addition, gene expression analysis of O. latipes and D. rerio under erythromycin treatment (2 mg/L) showed that the expression of genes related to energy metabolism in the muscle was significantly reduced in both species of fish. However, the gene expression pattern in the head of the two species was differentially impacted; D. rerio showed endocrine disruption, while phototransduction was impacted in O. latipes. The results of our study may be used as a reference to control erythromycin pollution in natural rivers.
Highlights
Antibiotics are frequently used worldwide for sterilization and to maintain health [1,2]
Compared with the control group (26.32 BL/s) (Ucrit : df = 3, F = 5.32, p = 0.03); the lowest dose of erythromycin (2 μg/L) slightly decreased the speed of O. latipes to 15.25 BL/s, and the highest dose of erythromycin (2 mg/L) clearly reduced the Ucrit value of O. latipes to 10.32 BL/s, while the Ucrit of the control fish was 15.46 BL/s
The swimming ability of the Oryzias latipes and Danio rerio was measured after exposure to varying doses of erythromycin (2 μg/L, 20 μg/L, 200 μg/L, and 2 mg/L) for 96 h
Summary
Antibiotics are frequently used worldwide for sterilization and to maintain health [1,2]. It has been reported that 80% of antibiotics enter the aquatic environment in their original form [3,4]. Studies have shown that antibiotics are widely detected in aquatic systems [5]. Adverse effects on fish have been widely reported; for example, antibiotics have been shown to delay the hatching of fish eggs [7], damage gills and liver [8], and destroy the antioxidant defenses in muscle, which affects fish metabolism [1,9] and injures neurons [1,9]. Previous studies have found concentrations of antibiotics at mg/L levels in swine wastewater [10,11,12], and erythromycin is commonly used for livestock farming [13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
