title: Alterations in the oxidative metabolism of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks in response to exposure to the insect growth regulator fluazuron.
abstract: Aiming to characterize the potential off-target effects of fluazuron on ticks, biochemical analyses were conducted to evaluate changes in the carbohydrate metabolism of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks after exposure to fluazuron. Hemolymph and fat body were collected from female ticks before and after (4, 8 and 15 days) exposure to fluazuron. Spectrophotometric analyses were done to quantify glucose concentration and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the hemolymph and the concentration of glycogen in the tick's fat body. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine the concentration of carboxylic acids in the hemolymph and to evaluate changes in intermediary metabolic processes requiring oxygen consumption. Increases in the levels of LDH activity and lactic acid concentration indicated that fluazuron enhanced fermentative metabolism in ticks. Exposure to fluazuron was also found to increase glucose concentrations in the hemolymph over time, although no significant differences were noted daily. In addition to expanding the body of knowledge about the mode of action of fluazuron, investigations into these mechanisms may also be useful in discovering new and as yet unexplored secondary effects.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabrício Nascimento
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Gaudêncio
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Vinícius Menezes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Tunholi-Alves
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mariana Gomes
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Silva
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Gôlo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Isabele da Costa
authors.initials: Ida C
authors.lastname: Angelo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rosane Nora
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Adivaldo Henrique da
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabio Barbour
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jairo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005216:Fat Body / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048494:Rhipicephalus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; C104929:fluazuron