Oxidative stress, DNA damage, and gene expression in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposure to ethiprole

Abstract To evaluate the potential ecotoxicity of ethiprole and early warning to earthworms (Eisenia fetida), different concentrations (0, 416, 625, and 1 000 mg kg− 1) of ethiprole were added to artificial soil. The key bioindicators were measured and screened at 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 d. The results show that the activity of catalase (CAT) was inhibited for all treatments during the whole exposure period. Besides, the olive tail moment (OTM) value increased gradually as the concentration got higher, which exhibited a dose-time-dependent relationship. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene reaching the maximum on the 7th d. Mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit (l-rRNA) gene was always in a down-regulated state as the concentration increased. Our results show that different concentrations of ethiprole induced certain oxidative stress, DNA damage, and genotoxicity in earthworms. The CAT activity, OTM, and SOD gene could be the most sensitive biomarkers to monitor the toxicity of ethiprole in the soil.