Update on the use of Pristina longiseta Ehrenberg, 1828 (Oligochaeta: Naididae) as a toxicity test organism.

Abstract

Ecotoxicological bioassays have been widely applied to evaluate the toxicity of substances in standardized test organisms. Nevertheless, the main challenge for researchers is the use of native species to express the effects of pollutants on aquatic biota. Thirty years ago, Smith and collaborators evaluate the possible use of Pristina longiseta (as Pristina leidyi) in acute toxicity test, developing some experiments using cadmium and vanadium as toxicants. The present work aimed to update the use of P. longiseta, in acute bioassays, presenting the occurrence and general characteristics of the species; adaptation of cultivation to tropical conditions; sensitivity tests using potassium chloride (KCl) and copper sulfate (CuSO4) as reference substances standardized by OECD, USEPA, and ABNT; and acute exposure to zinc chloride (ZnCl2). The results showed a successful use of this species as tropical test organism, which presented easy laboratory rearing and responded to the classical ecotoxicological index. The present study can increase the utilization of P. longiseta in bioassays for tropical regions and improve the evaluation of environmental impacts using a native species in ecotoxicological studies.