Genotoxic effects of anthropogenic environments in the leaf litter-dwelling scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones; Buthidae)

• Published in: Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis Vol. 887; p. 503585
• Main Authors: Silva, Aleson Aparecido da, Amorim, Érima Maria de, Pereira, Maria Gislaine, Santana, Samuel Lima de, Silva, Meykson Alexandre da, Lira, André Felipe de Araujo, Rohde, Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2023
• Subjects: Animals; Arachnids; Brazil; Comet Assay; DNA Damage; Ecotoxicology; Humans; Plant Leaves; Scorpions; Sentinel organism; Terrestrial pollution; Brazil; Arachnids; Terrestrial pollution; Ecotoxicology; Sentinel organism; DNA damage
• ISSN: 1383-5718; 1879-3592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2023.503585

Invertebrates are harmed by pollution of their habitats. Litter-dwelling sedentary scorpions, such as Tityus pusillus, studied here, may be good models for examining the genotoxic effects of xenobiotics in soil. Thirty specimens were collected from five sites in Northeast Brazil with different levels of human disturbance, as well as a laboratory group. The comet assay was performed on hemolymph cell samples. Damage Index (DI) and Damage Frequency (DF%) were measured. Much higher genotoxicity was observed in animals collected in an area with human interference and solid waste, compared to those obtained in more pristine areas or the laboratory. T. pusillus may be a useful model for environmental genotoxicity assays. •For the first time, the comet assay was applied to animals in the Scorpiones order.•Human disturbance (such as garbage disposal) of habitats may be genotoxic to scorpions.•Tityus pusillus is a valuable species for ecology research in South America.