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Distribution of Glyphosate in Chicken Organs and its Reduction by Humic Acid Supplementation
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Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine) is a most popular herbicide in agricultural practices throughout the world. It is possible that glyphosate spread in the ecosystems can reach plants, animals. The present work was directed to investigate the glyphosate residue in different organs of broiler chickens using ELISA and to study the possibility of its neutralisation using humic acid, Chlorella vulgaris and Saccharomyces boulardii. Results showed that glyphosate residues could be detected in the animal feed and different organs as liver, spleen, lung, intestine, heart, muscles and kidney. Humic acid, Chlorella vulgaris and Saccharomyces boulardii showed neutralization of the antimicrobial effect of glyphosate in vitro. Also, feed supplementation of commercial broiler with humic acid (0.2%) leads to a significant decrease in the glyphosate content, i.e. by 53%, 28%, 44%, 50%, 56%, 16%, 63% and 0% in serum, liver, spleen, lung, gastro-intestinal tract, heart, muscles and kidney, respectively. There were no significant effects of humic acid on the production parameters. This enlightenment will help to overcome the negative effect of glyphosate residues on gastrointestinal microbiota and protect consumers from glyphosate residues in chicken meat.
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... Extensive sampling of corn, soybeans, milk and eggs by the US Food and Drug Administration, using a specific analysis method, resulted in residues in a substantial percentage of the plant samples but not above the then current MRLs (FDA, 2017). However, very high concentrations of glyphosate were sometimes found in feed given to farm animals in Denmark that subsequently suffered from diseases such as infertility and malformation of pigs (Krüger et al., 2014b), botulism in cows (Gerlach et al., 2014;Krüger et al., 2013), and pathogenic Salmonella species in chickens Shehata et al., 2014). ...
... In the poultry studies mentioned above (Ruuskanen et al., 2020a;Ruuskanen et al., 2020b;Ruuskanen et al., 2020c;Shehata et al., 2013;Shehata et al., 2014), long-term exposure to glyphosate-based herbicide administered in the feed resulted in increased oxidative stress, lower testosterone levels and delayed development of female birds, which could have been affected by changes in the microbiome in the exposed birds (Ruuskanen et al., 2020c). Ultimate reproductive capacity was not affected in this bird study. ...
The herbicide glyphosate interferes with the shikimate pathway in plants and in major groups of microorganisms impeding the production of aromatic amino acids. Glyphosate application on plants results in a slow death, accelerated by reduced resistance to root pathogens. Extensive glyphosate use has resulted in increasing residues in soil and waterways. Although direct glyphosate effects on animals are limited, major concerns have arisen about indirect harmful side effects. In this paper, we focus on indirect effects of sublethal concentrations of glyphosate on plant, animal and human health due to shifts in microbial community compositions in successive habitats. Research results of glyphosate effects on microbial communities in soil, rhizosphere and animal guts have been contradictory due to the different integration levels studied. Most glyphosate studies have tested short-term treatment effects on microbial biomass or general community composition at higher taxonomic levels in soil, rhizosphere or animal intestinal tracts, and found little effect. More detailed studies showed reductions in specific genera or species as well as biological processes after glyphosate application. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and beneficial intestinal bacteria often are negatively affected, while pathogenic bacteria and fungi are enhanced. Such shifts in microbial community composition have been implicated in enhanced susceptibility of plants to Fusarium and Rhizoctonia, of birds and mammals to toxic Clostridium and Salmonella species, and of bees to Serratia and Deformed Wing Virus. In animals and humans, glyphosate exposure and concentrations in urine have been associated with intestinal diseases and neurological as well as endocrine problems, but cause-effect relationships need to be determined in more detail. Nevertheless, outbreaks of several animal and plant diseases have been related to glyphosate accumulation in the environment. Long-term glyphosate effects have been underreported, and new standards will be needed for residues in plant and animal products and the environment.
... Several studies have reported residues in domesticated animals used as food for humans, one of the potential routes of exposure of the general public to glyphosate. Analysis of glyphosate residues in urine and tissues of domesticated animals such as cows and rabbits 33,34 and chickens 35 have been reported. In cows from Danish farms, mean concentrations of glyphosate measured with a commercial ELISA kit in the urine of 30 cows from each of eight farms ranged from 10 to 100 μg L −1 with relatively large variance in some locations. ...
... In a related study on chickens that used the same analytical methods as the aforementioned studies, 33,34 residues of glyphosate in feed and various tissues in chickens, presumably in Germany, were measured. 35 Mean residues of glyphosate in feed were reported as 370 ± 92 (SD) μg kg −1 , while mean residues from 30-d old chickens ranged from 5 ± 0.3 to 98 ± 42 μg glyphosate/kg. The greatest concentration was measured in the intestine, which is consistent with known poor absorption of glyphosate in the gut of mammals. ...
Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, but it has also been the focus of discussion and restrictions in several countries since it was declared “probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A)” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2015. Since that time, several regulatory agencies have reviewed the public literature and guideline studies submitted for regulatory purposes and have concluded that it is not a carcinogen, and revised acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) and the reference dose (RfD) have been published. Also, restrictions on use have been lifted in many locations. Risk assessment for any pesticide requires knowledge of exposure in humans and the environment, and this paper is an update on a previous review in 2016 and includes papers published after 2016. These exposure data for air, water, bystanders, the general public, domesticated animals, pets, and applicators were combined and compared to the revised exposure criteria published by regulatory agencies. In all cases, measured and estimated systemic exposures to glyphosate in humans and animals were less than the ADIs and the RfD. Based on this large dataset, these exposures represent a de minimis risk. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
... However, assuming there is a potential issue here they propose that including 0.2% humic acids in the feed would neutralise the potential impact of glyphosate on reproductive fitness in livestock. A solution demonstrated effectively by Shehata et al. (2014) with broiler chickens. A critical review on the behaviour, fate, and detrimental impacts on ecological and human health of glyphosate concluded that glyphosate can be judiciously used in agriculture with the inclusion of safer surfactants in commercial formulations than the surfactant, polyethoxylated tallow amine, which is toxic itself and is likely to increase the toxicity of glyphosate (Meftaul et al. 2020). ...
Food and feed has been produced from genetically modified (GM) crops for 25 years. It is timely to review whether this technology has globally delivered the expected benefits and whether the ongoing debate on risks is justified. Expected benefits associated with GM include increased crop yields, reduced pesticide and insecticide use, reduced carbon dioxide emissions, improved soil structure, improved crop nutritive quality/value, and decreased costs of production. Concerns focus on food safety linked to toxicity and allergenicity, environmental risks associated with potential chances of gene flow, adverse effects on non-target organisms, evolution of resistance in weeds and insects, and genetic perturbations resulting in unintended compounds, new diseases, or antibiotic resistance. This review focusing on benefits and risks of GM crops concludes that they are a valuable option for delivering improved economic and environmental outcomes by providing solutions for many of the challenges facing mankind. GM technologies like many non-GM technologies can bring risks, but these can and have been monitored and quantified, allowing decisions balancing commercial, societal and environmental benefits against measurable risks. While ‘checks’ and ‘balances’ are required, regulatory schemes must focus on balancing risks and benefits and not on ‘checks’ alone which is the case for many countries.
... Moreover, contaminated food does not seem to be avoided, at least by Japanese quails (Ruuskanen et al., 2020), inducing changes in the avian microbiota (Shehata et al., 2013), endocrine disruption and alterations in male reproductive organs (Oliveira et al., 2007) as well as haematological, biochemical and genotoxic alterations in cockerels (Hussain et al., 2019). Researchers identified glyphosate in different organs (liver, spleen, intestine, heart and even muscles) in broiler chickens and determined how to neutralise it to ensure the safe consumption of chicken meat for consumers (Shehata et al., 2014). Due to their ubiquity in all environments and the few known studies on glyphosate, birds may represent valuable biosentinels, and researchers should be encouraged to investigate this topic more thoroughly (Kissane & Shepard, 2017). ...
For decades, we have observed a major biodiversity crisis impacting all taxa. Avian spe- cies have been particularly well monitored over the long term, documenting their declines. In particular, farmland birds are decreasing worldwide, but the contribution of pesticides to their decline remains controversial. Most studies addressing the effects of agrochemicals are limited to their assessment under controlled laboratory conditions, the determination of lethal dose 50 (LD50) values and testing in a few species, most belonging to Galliformes. They often ignore the high interspecies variability in sensitivity, delayed sublethal effects on the physiology, behaviour and life-history traits of individuals and their con- sequences at the population and community levels. Most importantly, they have entirely neglected to test for the multiple exposure pathways to which individu- als are subjected in the field (cocktail effects). The present review aims to provide a comprehensive over- view for ecologists, evolutionary ecologists and con- servationists. We aimed to compile the literature on the effects of pesticides on bird physiology, behaviour and life-history traits, collecting evidence from model and wild species and from field and lab experiments to highlight the gaps that remain to be filled. We show how subtle nonlethal exposure might be pernicious, with major consequences for bird populations and communities. We finally propose several prospec- tive guidelines for future studies that may be consid- ered to meet urgent needs.
... Residual amounts of glyphosate have been detected in soil, vegetables, grains and other food products. A recent study revealed that glyphosate residues can be accumulated in chicken organs and muscles after consuming glyphosate in their feed (Shehata et al., 2014). Furthermore, detection of glyphosate residues in human urine has indicated that many diseases currently on the rise, such as hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, are associated with glyphosate use as the cause of multi-organ toxicity. ...
Glyphosate, the active substance in Roundup®, is the most widely used pesticide in
the world and may be present as a residue in derived foods and drinking water. Previous
reports have confirmed that extracts from leaves of Morus alba exert many pharmacological
activities. However, renoprotective effects of M. alba extract and its underling molecular
mechanism is still unknown.
Wistar rats (180-200 g) were used in this study (n=5-6). A control group received 0.2 ml
normal saline intraperitoneally (i.p) once daily for two weeks. Control animals received standard
diet. Treated groups received either polyphenolic extract (100 mg/kg,i.p) or glyphosate (100
mg/kg, i.p), or co-administration (extract μg ml−1 kg b.w. and glyphosate 100 mg kg−1 b.w, i.p),
daily until the 15thday of treatment. Lactate deshydrogenase LDH, serum concentrations of
blood urea, creatinine and nitric oxide were measured using standard coloromertic methods.
Renal oxidative stress, evidenced by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein
carbonyl levels and decline in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, was significantly alleviated
by mulberry leaves extract (MLE) administration. MLE also appears to be able to modulate
altered biochemical parametres by maintaining free iron and Ca2+ homeostasis, and regulate
the endogenous antioxidant enzymes system. It seems that concurrent use of the aqueous
acetonic fraction of M. alba, rich in chlorogenic acid and its isomeres, can protect kidneys
from glyphosate-induced nephrotoxicity. Overall, MLE may possess protective activity against
glyphosate-induced toxicity, which may be attributed to chlorogenic acid and its isomers,
the most abundant phenolic acids present in its extracts.
Mulberry leaves are a source of phenolic compounds and can be a good start towards
discovering a new chemical compound which may lead to a new drug. A mulberry extract
supplement could serve as a candidate for developing a safe, and promising nutraceutical
product for the management of nephrotoxicity.
Keywords: glyphosate, oxidative stress, nephrotoxicity, mulberry, nephroprotective effect
... Residual amounts of glyphosate have been detected in soil, vegetables, grains and other food products. A recent study revealed that glyphosate residues can be accumulated in chicken organs and muscles after consuming glyphosate in their feed (Shehata et al., 2014). Furthermore, detection of glyphosate residues in human urine has indicated that many diseases currently on the rise, such as hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, are associated with glyphosate use as the cause of multi-organ toxicity. ...
Glyphosate, the active substance in Roundup®, is the most widely used pesticide in
the world and may be present as a residue in derived foods and drinking water.
leaves are a source of phenolic compounds and can be a good start towards
discovering a new chemical compound which may lead to a new drug.
Renoprotective effects of M. alba extract and its underling molecular
mechanism is discussed herein and as conclusion ,a mulberry extract
supplement could serve as a candidate for developing a safe, and promising nutraceutical
product for the management of nephrotoxicity, indueced by glyphosate
This paper documents an externality from the agricultural use of the most widely applied herbicide in the world—glyphosate—on birth outcomes of surrounding populations. We focus on the subclinical effects of water contamination in areas distant from the original locations of application. Our identification relies on: (i) the regulation allowing the introduction of genetically modified seeds in Brazil; (ii) the potential gain in municipality-level productivity from adoption of genetically modified soybean seeds and the strong complementary between these seeds and glyphosate; and (iii) the direction of water flow within water basins. We document a significant deterioration in birth outcomes for populations downstream from locations that are likely to have increased relatively more the use of glyphosate. According to our preferred specification, the average increase in glyphosate use in the sample during 2000–10 period led to an increase of 5% of the average in infant mortality rate.
Bacteria and other microorganisms have several mechanisms to react to stress in the environment. Exposure of bacteria to antibiotics, biocides, or selective pressure may favor the emergence of antimicrobial resistance by several mechanisms as an evolution principle. Bacteria may possess cross-tolerance or cross-resistance to other environmental toxic substances present in soil, water, foods, and feeds. Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine), one of these substances used in modern agriculture might change the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. The present study aimed to investigate the tolerance of extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from patients with nosocomial infections to glyphosate. Therefore, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of glyphosate-based herbicides (Roundup) of ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative Enterobacteriaceae were determined. Results showed that ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae exhibited a higher tolerance to Roundup compared with non-ESBL. To investigate the putative link between ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and the resistance to glyphosate, a non-ESBL E. coil strain was used for development of glyphosate-resistant mutants using high concentrations of Roundup. Nine Roundup-resistant mutants were developed and characterized using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight. One Roundup-resistant mutant (Mut-A) exhibited different antibiotic susceptibility profiles compared with wild-type strain. The Mut-A developed resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam, piperacillin, and streptomycin. Overall herbicides resistant Enterobacteriaceae might render resistant to β-lactam antibiotics as well. Further studies are urgently needed to investigate the mechanism of the putative link between antibiotic resistance and the herbicide-based glyphosate.
The adoption of genetically engineered (GE) crops in agriculture has increased dramatically over the last few decades. Among the transgenic plants, those tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate are among the most common. Weed resistance to glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) has been on the rise, leading to increased herbicide applications. This, in turn, has led to increased glyphosate residues in feed. Although glyphosate has been considered to be generally safe to animal health, recent studies have shown that GBHs have potential to cause adverse effects in animal reproduction, including disruption of key regulatory enzymes in androgen synthesis, alteration of serum levels of estrogen and testosterone, damage to reproductive tissues and impairment of gametogenesis. This review emphasizes known effects of GBHs on reproductive health as well as the potential risk GBH residues pose to animal agriculture.
This review explores the entrance of glyphosate into the food supply and its impact on human health, along with the incidental impact on the honey supply and bees. Currently, glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide as well as the most politicized and publicized herbicide. The debate on the use of glyphosate has been prompted by the confusion over the safety of glyphosate shown by conflicting scientific studies, public interest groups, and the media. This review will give some insight into the causes of confusion over the safety of glyphosate by examining the various knowledge limitations of the general public and of the authorities, who approve and set limits on the usage of glyphosate. Finally, this review concludes by suggesting that commercial formulations be studied to determine if the additives or impurities in the glyphosate-based solution have bigger impacts on human health than pure glyphosate.
Residue levels of endosulfan, endosulfan sulphate, glyphosate, and aminomethylphosphonate (AMPA) in green turgescent immature seeds of glyphosate-tolerant and non-tolerant soy beans were studied in Argentina. To establish the incidence of pesticides' spraying, one control and two plots that varied in glyphosate and endosulfan treatments in two different fields, located in Entre Rios Province (Argentina), were studied. Endosulfan, glyphosate and AMPA are present in immature soybeans and analyses revealed that the concentration of endosulfan residues were similar between soy varieties, but statistical differences were observed between the two treatments.
Enterocin 1146, a bacteriocin produced by Enterococcus faecium. DPC1146, has a rapid bactericidal effect on Listeria in buffer systems, broth, and milk. In trypticase soy broth, increasing the bacteriocin dose and/or decreasing the pH extended the lag phase of Listeria innocua. A logarithmic relationship was found between response (as proportion of survivors or growth compared to a control) and dose. Increasing the inoculum level of the indicator reduced the effectiveness of enterocin 1146. Log-phase cells of L. innocua were more resistant than stationary-phase cells in both broth and buffer systems. In milk treated with 250 arbitrary units of enterocin 1146/ml and inoculated with 10³ or 10⁵ CFU/ml of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A, populations reached only 5-14% of the control after 24 h at 30°C, with numbers exceeding 10⁷, while at 6°C a slow decrease in population was found. Copyright ©, International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians.
Enterococcus faecium DPC 1146 produces a bacteriocin, enterocin 1146, which is inhibitory to Listeria monocytogenes. Enterocin 1146 was produced in GM17 and in milk. The bacteriocin was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Its molecular weight, estimated by SDS-PAGE, was 3.0 kDa. It could be stored at -20°C without loss of activity, but pH had a marked effect on enterocin 1146, which was more stable at both high (up to 120°C) and low temperatures (4°C) at pH 5 than at pH 7 and 9. The sensitivity of 57 strains belonging to 35 different species was studied using a critical dilution assay. L. monocytogenes and L. innocua were most sensitive; enterocin 1146 had a bactericidal effect on Listeria. Starter and nonstarter lactic acid bacteria (except Lactobacillus sake) were insensitive or relatively resistant to the bacteriocin. Genetic determinants for bacteriocin production and immunity do not appear to be plasmid borne. Copyright ©, International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians.
Pesticides constitute a major anthropogenic addition to natural communities. In aquatic communities, a great majority of pesticide impacts are determined from single-species experiments conducted under laboratory conditions. Although this is an essential protocol to rapidly identify the direct impacts of pesticides on organisms, it prevents an assessment of direct and indirect pesticide effects on organisms embedded in their natural ecological contexts. In this study, I examined the impact of four globally common pesticides (two insecticides, carbaryl [Sevin] and malathion; two herbicides, glyphosate [Roundup] and 2,4-D) on the biodiversity of aquatic communities containing algae and 25 species of animals.
Species richness was reduced by 15% with Sevin, 30% with malathion, and 22% with Roundup, whereas 2,4-D had no effect. Both insecticides reduced zooplankton diversity by eliminating cladocerans but not copepods (the latter increased in abundance). The insecticides also reduced the diversity and biomass of predatory insects and had an apparent indirect positive effect on several species of tadpoles, but had no effect on snails. The two herbicides had no effects on zooplankton, insect predators, or snails. Moreover, the herbicide 2,4-D had no effect on tadpoles. However, Roundup completely eliminated two species of tadpoles and nearly exterminated a third species, resulting in a 70% decline in the species richness of tadpoles. This study represents one of the most extensive experimental investigations of pesticide effects on aquatic communities and offers a comprehensive perspective on the impacts of pesticides when nontarget organisms are examined under ecologically relevant conditions.
Field experiments were conducted at three locations in Mississippi in 1995 and 1996 to evaluate labeled and alternative herbicides and herbicide combinations for weed desiccation prior to soybean harvest. Weeds evaluated included pitted morningglory, hemp sesbania, spotted spurge, common cocklebur, and sicklepod. Soybean yield and harvestable soybean losses were not affected by preharvest herbicide treatments, spray volume, or surfactant concentration. Soybean moisture was most consistently reduced by glufosinate compared to the untreated and other herbicides and herbicide combinations evaluated. Most desiccation treatments at Stoneville and Brooksville resulted in foreign material similar to the weed-free check. Glufosinate at 0.84, 1.1, and 1.4 kg ai/ha desiccated all weeds evaluated 90% or more with no differences among rates. The addition of 3.4 or 6.7 kg ai/ha sodium chlorate to 0.28 kg ai/ha paraquat, 1.1 and 2.2 kg ai/ha glyphosate, or 0.28 and 0.56 kg ai/ha oxyfluorfen increased desiccation of most weeds evaluated, with no difference between sodium chlorate rates. In some instances, reducing application volume from 281 to 94 L/ha improved pitted morningglory desiccation when 0.28 g/ha paraquat was applied alone. There were no differences between 0.25 and 0.50% (v/v) surfactant for most parameters evaluated.
The lack of evolution of weed resistance to the herbicide glyphosate has been considered from several perspectives. Few plant species are inherently resistant to glyphosate. Furthermore, the long history of extensive use of the herbicide has resulted in no verified instances of weeds evolving resistance under field situations. Unique properties of glyphosate such as its mode of action, metabolism, chemical structure, and lack of residual activity in soil may explain this observation. Selection for glyphosate resistance of crops using intense whole plant and cell/tissue culture techniques, including mutagenesis, has had only limited success and is unlikely to be duplicated under normal field conditions. Information obtained in the development of glyphosate-resistant crops suggests that target-site alterations that decrease the herbicidal activity of glyphosate also may lead to reduced survival of a weed. In addition, the complex manipulations that were required for the development of glyphosate-resistant crops are unlikely to be duplicated in nature to evolve glyphosate-resistant weeds.
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of adding baker yeast (BY), chlortetracycline (CTC) and both BY + CTC to a control diet containing 200 ng/g of aflatoxin B I (C + AFB,)on performance, serum parameters and pathologyc alterations of broilers. A total 100chicks (Ross PM 3) were divided into five groups in individual cages and each containing 20 animals. BY, a rich source of protein and vitamin B complex, was mixed into the diets at 2.0 %, CTC was mixed into the diet at 2.5 ng/g. Feed consumption, body weight and feed efficiency were recorded weekly. Serum parameters and pathologyc alterations were determined at the end of the study. Dead animals were recorded daily. Liver changes were clearly apparent in the C+AFB(1), and C+AFB(1),+CTC most of the livers were enlarged, yellow and had pethecial hemorrhages. Canalicula cholestosis was absent in group C+AFB(1), and C+AFB(1) +CTC, but not others. When compared to the control (C) group, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), appear to be significantly increased in the C+AFB(1) and C+CTC+AFB(1) groups. Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT)was increased in C+AFB(1) birds. Serum alphaphetoprotein was not affected by the treatments. Feed consumption and body weight were significantly reduced in group AFB(1). Birds receiving BY + AFB(1),(,) CTC + AFB, and BY + CTC + AFB(1) had a significantly higher body weight than group C+AFB Feed efficiency was better in group CTC + AFB, than the others. The findings of this research suggest tha BY (2%) can partly counteract some of the toxic effects of AFB.
The object of this study was to analyze the hepatic effects of the herbicide Glyphosate-Biocarb® (as commercialized in Brazil) in Wistar rats. Animals were treated orally with water or 4.87, 48.7, or 487 mg/kg of glyphosate each 2 days, during 75 days. Sub-chronic treatment of animals starting from the lowest dose of glyphosate induced the leakage of hepatic intracellular enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), suggesting irreversible damage in hepatocytes. We observed the increase of Kupffer cells in hepatic sinusoid of glyphosate-treated animals. This was followed by large deposition of reticulin fibers, composed mainly of collagen type III. We may conclude that Glyphosate-Biocarb® may induce hepatic histological changes as well as AST and ALT leaking from liver to serum in experimental models.