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.
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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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