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Effects of Terbufos (Organophosphate) on Larval Behaviour of Two Forensically Important Diptera Species: Contributions for Entomotoxicology

  • Medical and Veterinary Entomology
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Abstract

Neurotoxicant compounds interfere with the behaviour and biology of insects, significantly altering their locomotion patterns. However, little is known about the effect of organophosphates, neurotoxicants for agricultural, domestic and industrial use, on the larval movement of necrophagous flies, although being responsible for frequent cases of poisoning and accidental or intentional deaths. Thus, we aimed to study the influence of Terbufos (organophosphate) on the activity and mobility patterns of Lucilia eximia (Wiedemann 1819) (Calliphoridae) and Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann 1830) (Sarcophagidae) immatures collected from rat carcasses intoxicated with 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg of Terbufos, to evaluate (i) peristaltic movements and body contractions, and (ii) distance and shape of the trajectory travelled by the larva. Behavioural parameters were analysed in loco and through videos. We observed that the presence of Terbufos altered poisoned larvae’s activity and body mobility in both taxon and dose-dependent manner. Lucilia eximia larvae were more active, with greater frequency of body movements and lateral contractions when intoxicated with high and intermediate doses of Terbufos. On the other hand, P. (P.) chrysostoma immatures were less active, with fewer body and lateral contractions when intoxicated with the high dose of the compound. This work experimentally demonstrates that the presence of Terbufos can alters the mobility and movement of intoxicated necrophagous Diptera, essential components of the cadaveric fauna.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Insect and Vectors, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

    Jéssica Teixeira Jales, Taciano Moura Barbosa & Renata Antonaci Gama

  2. Robotics and Machine Learning Team, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

    Victor Ramon Firmo Moreira

  3. Laboratory of Insects of Forensic Importance, Department of Zoology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil

    Simão Dias Vasconcelos

  4. Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

    Vanessa de Paula Soares Rachetti

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  1. Jéssica Teixeira Jales
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  2. Taciano Moura Barbosa
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  4. Simão Dias Vasconcelos
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Contributions

Jéssica Teixeira Jales: conceptualization, methodology, investigation, resources, writing original draft, writing review and editing; Taciano de Moura Barbosa: conceptualization, investigation, validation, formal analysis, writing original draft, writing review and editing; Victor Ramon Firmo Moreira: methodology, investigation; Simão Dias Vasconcelos: writing original draft, visualization, supervision; Vanessa de Paula Soares Rachetti: writing original draft, visualization, supervision; Renata Antonaci Gama: conceptualization, writing original draft, project administration.

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Correspondence to Jéssica Teixeira Jales.

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The author Simão Dias Vasconcelos is part of the editorial board of this journal, so it is important to indicate the possible conflicts of interest here.

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Supplementary information

Lucilia eximia control larvae (not intoxicated). Perceive standard peristaltic body contractions, with the movement of the head piece left and right during the process. (MP4 17351 kb)

Lucilia eximia larvae intoxicated with high dose of Terbufos. Perceive incoordination of body contractions and great larval agitation. (MP4 11394 kb)

Peckia (P.) chrysostoma control larvae (not intoxicated). Coordinated movements of body contraction and movement of the head piece guiding the trajectory. (MP4 10562 kb)

Peckia (P.) chrysostoma larvae intoxicated with high dose of Terbufos, noticing slower larvae during the movement process and the presence of body spasms. (MP4 10592 kb)

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Jales, J.T., Barbosa, T.M., Moreira, V.R.F. et al. Effects of Terbufos (Organophosphate) on Larval Behaviour of Two Forensically Important Diptera Species: Contributions for Entomotoxicology. Neotrop Entomol 52, 1155–1164 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-023-01094-6

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