Potential Utility of Protein Content as A Biomarker of Xenobiotic Toxicity in the Land Snail, Theba pisana

F. Gad, Amira; A. Radwan, Mohamed

doi:10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2023.332737

Potential Utility of Protein Content as A Biomarker of Xenobiotic Toxicity in the Land Snail, Theba pisana

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Amira F. Gad ¹
Mohamed A. Radwan ²

¹ Department of Animal Pests, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Alexandria, Egypt

² Department of Pesticide Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Alexandria, (El-Shatby, 21545), Alexandria, Egypt

10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2023.332737

Abstract

Agricultural and industrial chemicals are currently receiving great attention due to their possible risks to non-target species, including land gastropods. Protein is a key component for living organisms to maintain their vital livesThe present investigation looked at protein content changes in the hemolymph, hepatopancreas, head-foot, and mantle of the land snail, Theba pisana subjected to an artificial diet spiked with sub-lethal concentration (0.05 LC₅₀) of abamectin, thiamethoxam, and acrylamide for two weeks of treatment followed by a week recovery. The obtained results showed a marked increase in the protein content in all tested tissues of T. pisana after two weeks of treatment with abamectin, thiamethoxam, and acrylamide. After one-week post recovery, protein contents in treated animals were slightly repaired, but still higher than those of untreated animals. Abamectin seemed to be more harmful to the protein content of T. pisana followed by thiamethoxam and acrylamide. Additionally, the protein content (%) in the hepatopancreas was more affected by the tested compounds. Our study suggests that the protein content response to xenobiotic may prove to be a useful biomarker for biomonitoring terrestrial ecosystem health and providing important information on the mechanisms underlying xenobiotic toxicity.

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