title: Changes in Gut Microbiota May Be Early Signs of Liver Toxicity Induced by Epoxiconazole in Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The gut microbiome is essential for human health due to its effects on disease development, drug metabolism and the immune system. It may also play a role in the interaction with environmental toxicants. However, the effect of epoxiconazole, a fungicide active ingredient from the class of azoles developed to protect crops, on the abundance and composition of the gut microbiome has never been studied. We put forward the hypothesis that changes in gut microbiota may be early signs of toxicity induced by epoxiconazole.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, female rats were fed with epoxiconazole-adulterated diets (0, 4 and 100 mg/kg/day) for 90 days. The gut microbiome was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Body and organ weight, and blood biochemistry were also measured after 90 days of oral epoxiconazole exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interestingly, the abundance of gut Firmicutes decreased, and Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria increased. At family level, Lachnospiraceae and Enterobacteriaceae were selectively enriched following epoxiconazole exposure. Our results indicate that epoxiconazole exposure may induce changes in the gut microbiome and potential liver toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in the gut microbiome may be used as early indicators for monitoring the health risk of the host.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huan
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yubang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhaoyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014230:Triazoles / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D014230:Triazoles; C109476:epoxiconazole