Evaluation of sublethal biomarkers in Litopenaeus vannamei on foodborne exposure to methyl parathion

Sublethal effects of foodborne exposure to methyl parathion (0.62 and 1.31 μg methyl parathion*g−1 dry weight of food) on juveniles of Litopenaeus vannamei using integrated biochemical (acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and ATPases) and physiological (feeding rate (FR), egestion rate (ER), and hepatosomatic index (HI)) biomarkers were evaluated. The HI was significantly higher in controls than in pesticide treatments. The FR was significantly lower in controls than in pesticide treatments while no significant differences were detected in the ER. AChE activity was significantly higher in controls than in pesticide treatments (control=0.11±0.02; solvent control=0.11±0.03; 0.62=0.07±0.01; 1.31=0.08±0.02 μM*min−1*mg protein−1). The total-ATPase activity was significantly lower in controls than in pesticide treatments (control=77.90±12.41; solvent control=83.69±22.05; 0.62=110.03±22.17; 1.31=121.54±19.84 μM Pi*h−1*mg protein−1). The Mg2+-ATPase activity was significantly higher in treatments than in controls (control=65.14±10.76; solvent control=75.12±21.10; 0.62=100.53±20.97; 1.31=108.94±17.26 μM Pi*h−1*mg protein−1). Finally, the results obtained for the Na+/K+-ATPase activity were significantly higher in control and in 1.31 than in solvent control and in 0.62 (control=14.06±2.63; solvent control=7.30±4.13; 0.62=7.60±3.81; 1.31=13.42±2.88 μM Pi*h−1*mg protein−1). The results in this study showed that pulse exposures to methyl parathion via food could elicit measurable effects on the marine shrimp L. vannamei, indicating that foodborne exposure can be a reliable toxicological procedure and, if combined with pulse exposures, could also simulate more realistic exposure scenarios.