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Toxicological Effects Induced by Silver Nanoparticles in Zebra Fish (Danio Rerio) and in the Bacteria Communities Living at Their Surface

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Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) makes them useful in a wide range of products although their environmental impact is still uncertain. The main goal of this study was to evaluate short-term effects induced by AgNP on gills oxidative status and bacterial communities living at the skin mucus of zebrafish. Both the number of bacteria colony forming units and bacteria growth obtained from skin mucus were lower in all concentrations tested (25, 50 and 100 µg nAg/L). Besides, AgNP exposure caused a significant decrease in bacteria growth in zebrafish exposed to 100 µg nAg/L. AgNP accumulated in zebrafish gills at both highest concentrations tested, but this accumulation did not appear to result in oxidative stress. Overall the results indicated toxicological effects of AgNP on bacteria communities living at the zebrafish mucus surface. Although silver accumulation was verified in gills, no evidence of toxicity in terms of oxidative stress was found.

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Acknowledgments

L. Machado de Carvalho and J.M.Monserrat are research fellows from Brazilian CNPq. The work was supported by Nanotoxicology Network (MCTI/CNPq Process Number 552131/2011-3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Limnología (INALI-CONICET-UNL), Paraje El Pozo, Ciudad Universitaria UNL, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina

    Carla Bacchetta

  2. Nanotek S.A., Santa Fe, Argentina

    Gerardo López & Gisela Pagano

  3. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Santa Fe, Argentina

    Gerardo López & Gisela Pagano

  4. Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa María (UFSM), Santa María, RS, Brazil

    Diana Tomazi Muratt & Leandro Machado de Carvalho

  5. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil

    José María Monserrat

  6. Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil

    José María Monserrat

  7. Programa de Pós-graduação em Aquicultura, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil

    José María Monserrat

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  1. Carla Bacchetta
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  2. Gerardo López
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  5. Leandro Machado de Carvalho
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  6. José María Monserrat
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Correspondence to Carla Bacchetta.

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Bacchetta, C., López, G., Pagano, G. et al. Toxicological Effects Induced by Silver Nanoparticles in Zebra Fish (Danio Rerio) and in the Bacteria Communities Living at Their Surface. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 97, 456–462 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1883-7

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