What is it about?
Our results suggest that atrazine can impair amphibian host antiviral immunity, possibly leading to increased susceptibility to pathogenic infections. It is noteworthy that although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for maximum acceptable drinking water contaminant levels (MCL) are 3 ppb, levels of 10 ppb or even higher are frequently detected due to agricultural run-offs. Therefore, our findings should raise concerns regarding not only compromised wild life but also human population in these areas where this pesticide is commonly used.
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Why is it important?
Our study suggests that certain pesticides have a negative effect on the immune response against pathogens, such as the rapidly emerging ranaviruses, as such the presence of herbicides in the water used in fish farming and other aquacultural settings may need to be considered as an important factor influencing susceptibility to infections.
Perspectives
Besides obvious toxic effects of water pollutants, increasing evidence suggests more subtle, but persistent negative impacts of exposure to these compounds on immunity, resulting in increased susceptibility to microbial and viral infections. Our research contribute to elucidate an underappreciated deleterious effect of water pollutants for amphibians and other aquatic vertebrates. The collected data will be of major interest for environmental protection agencies and thus public health.
Dr Jacques Robert
Jacques Robert
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Negative effects of low dose atrazine exposure on the development of effective immunity to FV3 in Xenopus laevis, Developmental & Comparative Immunology, November 2014, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.06.012.
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