Low doses of ivermectin cause sensory and locomotor disorders in dung beetles.
Sci Rep
; 5: 13912, 2015 Sep 09.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26350768
Ivermectin is a veterinary pharmaceutical generally used to control the ecto- and endoparasites of livestock, but its use has resulted in adverse effects on coprophilous insects, causing population decline and biodiversity loss. There is currently no information regarding the direct effects of ivermectin on dung beetle physiology and behaviour. Here, based on electroantennography and spontaneous muscle force tests, we show sub-lethal disorders caused by ivermectin in sensory and locomotor systems of Scarabaeus cicatricosus, a key dung beetle species in Mediterranean ecosystems. Our findings show that ivermectin decreases the olfactory and locomotor capacity of dung beetles, preventing them from performing basic biological activities. These effects are observed at concentrations lower than those usually measured in the dung of treated livestock. Taking into account that ivermectin acts on both glutamate-gated and GABA-gated chloride ion channels of nerve and muscle cells, we predict that ivermectin's effects at the physiological level could influence many members of the dung pat community. The results indicate that the decline of dung beetle populations could be related to the harmful effects of chemical contamination in the dung.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Escarabajos
/
Ivermectina
/
Insecticidas
/
Enfermedades de los Animales
/
Enfermedades Neuromusculares
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Sci Rep
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
España
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido