EVALUATION OF THE TOXICITY OF A MIXTURE INSECTICIDES USED ON A BIOLOGICAL MODEL: THE SNAIL HELIX ASPERSA.

In this study, we were interested in evaluating the impact of a mixture of two neonicotinoid insecticides and their effects on a bioaccumulative organism and bioindicator of environmental pollution, the snail Helix aspersa. This is a subchronic toxicity study (21-day). Insecticide toxicity is determined in the snail Helix aspersa by a laboratory biotest on animals exposed to increasing concentrations of insecticide mixture (70 µg/g, 180 µg/g, 340 µg/g diet). Our results show physiological disturbances in the weight and shell diameter of the treated snails, while metabolic changes indicate a disturbance in protein levels and a decrease in carbohydrate levels (dependent dose) in the hepatopancreas and kidney. Our results also show the existence of an induction of catalase activity constituting one of the cellular defence mechanisms against the presence of insecticides in two target organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]