Effect of albendazole anthelmintics on the enzyme activities of different tissue regions in Eisenia fetida

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of albendazole (ABZ) on acid phosphatase (AP), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase (Ca2+-ATPase) activities in different tissue regions of earthworms and the whole earthworm after 2, 7 and 14 days exposure. The results were as follows: AP activities in the anterior and the mid-part were sensitive to ABZ. Particularly, AP activity in the anterior decreased significantly at concentrations between 100 mg kg−1 and 600 mg kg−1 after 14 days. GST and Ca2+-ATPase activities in the mid-part were sensitive to ABZ, GST activity being inhibited significantly by ABZ concentrations between 400 mg kg−1 and 600 mg kg−1 after 7 days and at concentrations between 200 mg kg−1 and 600 mg kg−1 after 14 days. GST activity was negatively correlated with ABZ concentrations. Ca2+-ATPase activity in the mid-part was inhibited significantly at concentrations between 200 mg kg−1 and 600 mg kg−1 after 7 days; after 14 days, Ca2+-ATPase activity recovered to the control level. In conclusion, the different tissue regions of Eisenia fetida show different responses in enzymatic activities to ABZ and, therefore, provide early warning signals of soil contamination.