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. 2023 Jul 17;32(3):e004023.
doi: 10.1590/S1984-29612023041. eCollection 2023.

Liver and spleen of hosts of Rhipicephalus linnaei exposed to synthetic (afoxolaner) and natural acaricides (esters from castor oil). A comparative clinical-morphological study

Luís Fernando Sodelli  1 , Odaiza da Silva  1 , Bruna Jéssyca Nascimento Araújo  1 , Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias  1
Affiliations

Liver and spleen of hosts of Rhipicephalus linnaei exposed to synthetic (afoxolaner) and natural acaricides (esters from castor oil). A comparative clinical-morphological study

Luís Fernando Sodelli et al. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

In dogs, Rhipicephalus linnaei transmits pathogens such as Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli, and Hepatozoon canis. The veterinary market has synthetic acaricides to ticks control. Esters derived from castor oil are efficient. However, there is little information about their effects on non-target organisms. This work consisted of a clinical (AST, ALT, and ALP) and histological and histochemical analysis (liver and spleen) of female rabbits exposed to these esters and afoxolaner. The rabbits were divided into three groups: control group (CG) received Bandeirante® rabbit feed; the afoxolaner treatment (TG1) received rabbit feed and two doses of afoxolaner; castor oil esters treatment (TG2) received rabbit feed enriched with esters (1.75 g esters/kg). No alterations were observed in the AST, ALT, and ALP enzymes in exposure to esters TG2. Rabbits from TG1 showed changes in AST. The liver of rabbits exposed to afoxolaner underwent histological and histochemical changes, such as steatosis and vacuolation, as well as poor protein labeling. Polysaccharides were intensely observed in the group exposed to esters. The spleen showed no changes in any of the exposure. Esters from castor oil caused fewer liver changes when incorporated into the feed and fed to rabbits than exposure to afoxolaner.

Carrapatos Rhipicephalus linnaei transmitem patógenos como Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli e Hepatozoon canis, para os cães. O mercado veterinário dispõe de acaricidas sintéticos para o controle desses ectoparasitas. Ésteres derivados do óleo de mamona são eficientes, mas há pouca informação sobre seus efeitos em organismos não-alvos. Esse trabalho objetivou analisar clínica (AST, ALT e ALP), histológica e histoquímicamente (fígado e baço) coelhas expostas aos ésteres e ao afoxolaner, tendo sido as mesmas alocadas nos grupos: Controle (GC) que recebeu ração Bandeirante®; Tratamento 1 (TG1), além da ração foram expostas ao afoxolaner, Tratamento 2 (TG2) receberam ração enriquecida com os ésteres (1,75 g ésteres/kg). Não houve alterações nas enzimas AST, ALT e ALP na exposição aos ésteres (TG2). No TG1 houve alterações na AST. O fígado das coelhas do TG1 apresentou alterações histológicas e histoquímicas, tais como esteatose e vacuolização, bem como fraca marcação de proteínas. Polissacarídeos foi intensamente marcados no fígado do TG2. O baço não apresentou alterações em nenhum dos grupos. Os ésteres do óleo de mamona causaram menos alterações hepáticas nas coelhas do que quando elas foram expostas ao afoxolaner.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Scheme and histological sections of the liver of rabbits allocated in the control group (CG), stained by HE (A-B) for the general observation of tissue organization and by bromophenol blue (C) and PAS reaction (D) to detect total proteins and carbohydrates, respectively. Circle= hepatocyte, n= hepatocyte nucleus, arrow= Kupffer cell nucleus, dashed= hepatocyte cords. A-B= 40X. C-D= 100X.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Scheme and histological sections of the liver of rabbits exposed to afoxolaner (TG1) and stained by HE (A-B). Histochemical tests: bromophenol blue (C) and PAS reaction (D) to detect total proteins and carbohydrates, respectively. Circle= hepatocyte, n= hepatocyte nucleus, arrow= Kupffer cell nucleus, arrow head= vacuolation around the nucleus, g= fine cytoplasmic granulation PAS-positive, dashed= hepatocyte cords. A= 40X. B, C, D= 100X.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Scheme and histological sections of the liver of rabbits allocated to the castor oil treatment group (TG2) (Ricinus communis). The sections were stained by HE (A-B) and bromophenol blue (C), and PAS reaction (D) to detect total proteins and carbohydrates. Dashed= hepatocyte cord, p= accumulation of polysaccharide granulation, n= nucleus, arrow= Kupffer cell, circles= hepatocyte. A= 40X. B, C, D= 100X.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Scheme and histological sections of the spleen of rabbits allocated in the control group (CG), stained by HE (A-C) for the general observation of the tissue after exposure. Dashed= white pulp, a= arteriole, rp= red pulp. A= 10X. B= 100X. C= 40X.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Scheme and histological sections of the spleen of rabbits allocated to the afoxolaner treatment group (TG1), stained by HE (A-C) for the general observation of the tissue after exposure. Dashed= white pulp region (wp), rp= red pulp. A= 10X. B= 100x. C= 40X.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Scheme and histological sections of the spleen of rabbits allocated to the castor oil treatment group (TG2) (Ricinus communis), subjected to HE stain (A-C) and PAS reaction (B) to detect carbohydrates. Dashed= white pulp region (wp), a= central arteriole, rp= red pulp. A= 10X. B= 100X. C= 40X.
Figure 7
Figure 7. Scheme and histological sections of the spleen of rabbits allocated in the control group (CG), stained by bromophenol blue to detect total proteins (A), and reacted by PAS to detect carbohydrates (B). Dashed= white pulp, rp= red pulp. A-B= 10X.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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