Alterations in the oxidative metabolism of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks in response to exposure to the insect growth regulator fluazuron

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria Vol. 25; no. 1; pp. 54 - 60
• Main Authors: Gaudêncio, Fabrício Nascimento, Tunholi-Alves, Vinícius Menezes, Lima, Mariana Gomes, Gôlo, Patrícia Silva, Angelo, Isabele da Costa, Castro, Rosane Nora, Fonseca, Adivaldo Henrique da, Scott, Fabio Barbour, Pinheiro, Jairo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária 01.01.2016; Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria
• Subjects: Animals; Benzofenilureia; Fat Body - chemistry; Fat Body - drug effects; Female; Hemolymph - chemistry; Hemolymph - drug effects; PARASITOLOGY; Phenylurea Compounds - pharmacology; Rhipicephalus - drug effects; Rhipicephalus - metabolism; síntese de quitina; VETERINARY SCIENCES; ácidos orgânicos; ácidos orgânicos; Benzoylphenylurea; Benzofenilureia; chitin synthesis; organic acids; síntese de quitina
• ISSN: 0103-846X; 1984-2961; 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612016006

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.