Does Faeces Excreted by Moxidectin-Treated Sheep Impact Coprophagous Insects and the Activity of Soil Microbiota in Subtropical Pastures?

Moxidectin (MOX) is used to control helminth parasites in ruminant livestock. It is released through feces and remains in the environment for a long period. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of faeces excreted by moxidectin-treated sheep on soil biodiversity (coprophagous insects, soil microbi...

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Main Authors: Susana Gilaverte Hentz, Felix Guillermo Reyes Reyes, Glaciela Kaschuk, Leandro Bittencourt de Oliveira, Maria Angela Machado Fernandes, Alda Lúcia Gomes Monteiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:Scientifica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/1960065
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author Susana Gilaverte Hentz
Felix Guillermo Reyes Reyes
Glaciela Kaschuk
Leandro Bittencourt de Oliveira
Maria Angela Machado Fernandes
Alda Lúcia Gomes Monteiro
author_facet Susana Gilaverte Hentz
Felix Guillermo Reyes Reyes
Glaciela Kaschuk
Leandro Bittencourt de Oliveira
Maria Angela Machado Fernandes
Alda Lúcia Gomes Monteiro
author_sort Susana Gilaverte Hentz
collection DOAJ
description Moxidectin (MOX) is used to control helminth parasites in ruminant livestock. It is released through feces and remains in the environment for a long period. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of faeces excreted by moxidectin-treated sheep on soil biodiversity (coprophagous insects, soil microbial biomass, and activity) to establish environment-related guidelines regarding the use of MOX in sheep livestock. The study consisted of two experiments. In the first one, faeces from MOX-treated (subcutaneous dose of 0.2 mg·kg−1 body weight) and nontreated rams were placed on an animal-free pasture field, protected or not against rain, for 88 days. Then, coprophagous insects were captured, identified, and counted, and faeces degradation was evaluated by measuring dry weight and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents over time. Diptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, and Coleoptera were equally encountered in faeces from MOX-treated and nontreated animals. Faecal boluses of MOX-treated animals (with higher N content) not protected against rain degraded faster than faecal boluses of nontreated animals (with lower N content). In the second experiment, faeces from nontreated animals were amended with increasing amounts of MOX (75 to 3,000 ng·kg−1 faeces), mixed with soil samples from animal-free pasture (1.9 to 75 ng·kg−1 soil), and incubated in a greenhouse for 28 days. Increasing concentrations of MOX did not prevent the growth of cultivable bacteria, actinobacteria, or fungi in culture media. However, even the lower MOX concentration (1.9 ng·kg−1 soil) abruptly decreased soil microbial biomass, basal respiration, and N mineralization. Thus, the results indicate that faeces excreted from sheep treated with MOX under the experimental conditions of this study are not harmful to the coprophagous insects. However, adding MOX to faeces from drug-free sheep had a negative impact on soil microbial activity and biomass.
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issn 2090-908X
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spelling doaj-art-0de42c3f61114284beed735a7af51e472025-02-03T07:23:44ZengWileyScientifica2090-908X2024-01-01202410.1155/2024/1960065Does Faeces Excreted by Moxidectin-Treated Sheep Impact Coprophagous Insects and the Activity of Soil Microbiota in Subtropical Pastures?Susana Gilaverte Hentz0Felix Guillermo Reyes Reyes1Glaciela Kaschuk2Leandro Bittencourt de Oliveira3Maria Angela Machado Fernandes4Alda Lúcia Gomes Monteiro5Sheep and Goat Production and Research CenterDepartment of Food Science and NutritionDepartment of Soil and Agricultural EngineeringDepartment of Crop Science and Plant ProtectionSheep and Goat Production and Research CenterSheep and Goat Production and Research CenterMoxidectin (MOX) is used to control helminth parasites in ruminant livestock. It is released through feces and remains in the environment for a long period. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of faeces excreted by moxidectin-treated sheep on soil biodiversity (coprophagous insects, soil microbial biomass, and activity) to establish environment-related guidelines regarding the use of MOX in sheep livestock. The study consisted of two experiments. In the first one, faeces from MOX-treated (subcutaneous dose of 0.2 mg·kg−1 body weight) and nontreated rams were placed on an animal-free pasture field, protected or not against rain, for 88 days. Then, coprophagous insects were captured, identified, and counted, and faeces degradation was evaluated by measuring dry weight and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents over time. Diptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, and Coleoptera were equally encountered in faeces from MOX-treated and nontreated animals. Faecal boluses of MOX-treated animals (with higher N content) not protected against rain degraded faster than faecal boluses of nontreated animals (with lower N content). In the second experiment, faeces from nontreated animals were amended with increasing amounts of MOX (75 to 3,000 ng·kg−1 faeces), mixed with soil samples from animal-free pasture (1.9 to 75 ng·kg−1 soil), and incubated in a greenhouse for 28 days. Increasing concentrations of MOX did not prevent the growth of cultivable bacteria, actinobacteria, or fungi in culture media. However, even the lower MOX concentration (1.9 ng·kg−1 soil) abruptly decreased soil microbial biomass, basal respiration, and N mineralization. Thus, the results indicate that faeces excreted from sheep treated with MOX under the experimental conditions of this study are not harmful to the coprophagous insects. However, adding MOX to faeces from drug-free sheep had a negative impact on soil microbial activity and biomass.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/1960065
spellingShingle Susana Gilaverte Hentz
Felix Guillermo Reyes Reyes
Glaciela Kaschuk
Leandro Bittencourt de Oliveira
Maria Angela Machado Fernandes
Alda Lúcia Gomes Monteiro
Does Faeces Excreted by Moxidectin-Treated Sheep Impact Coprophagous Insects and the Activity of Soil Microbiota in Subtropical Pastures?
Scientifica
title Does Faeces Excreted by Moxidectin-Treated Sheep Impact Coprophagous Insects and the Activity of Soil Microbiota in Subtropical Pastures?
title_full Does Faeces Excreted by Moxidectin-Treated Sheep Impact Coprophagous Insects and the Activity of Soil Microbiota in Subtropical Pastures?
title_fullStr Does Faeces Excreted by Moxidectin-Treated Sheep Impact Coprophagous Insects and the Activity of Soil Microbiota in Subtropical Pastures?
title_full_unstemmed Does Faeces Excreted by Moxidectin-Treated Sheep Impact Coprophagous Insects and the Activity of Soil Microbiota in Subtropical Pastures?
title_short Does Faeces Excreted by Moxidectin-Treated Sheep Impact Coprophagous Insects and the Activity of Soil Microbiota in Subtropical Pastures?
title_sort does faeces excreted by moxidectin treated sheep impact coprophagous insects and the activity of soil microbiota in subtropical pastures
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/1960065
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