ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Exposure of honeybees to pesticide residue levels can lead to adverse molecular effects on oxidative stress-related biomarkers
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1
Department of Plant Protection, Damanhour University, ElGomhoriyah, 22516, Damanhour, Egypt
2
Department of Plant Protection, Damanhour University, Elgomohoriyah, 22516, Damanhour, Egypt
3
Plant Pathology Department, Division of Genetics, Damanhour University, Elgomhoriyah, 22516, Damanhour, Egypt
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Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt
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Mammalian & Aquatic Toxicology Department, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory, 12618, Giza, Egypt
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Department of Plant Protection, Damanhour University, Elgomhoriyah, 22516, Damanhour, Egypt
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article
Submission date: 2025-06-10
Acceptance date: 2025-08-26
Online publication date: 2025-09-17
Corresponding author
Hossam F. Abou-Shaara
Department of Plant Protection, Damanhour University, Elgomhoriyah, 22516, Damanhour, Egypt
HIGHLIGHTS
- Chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and pendimethalin showed up-regulation of tested genes
- Fludioxonil and tolcophos had similar gene expression results to the control group
- Pesticide residues demonstrated varied specific activities of tested enzymes
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ABSTRACT
Pesticides pose a significant challenge for non-target organisms, particularly honeybees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758). Worker honeybees encounter pesticide residues during foraging in both open fields and hives. These residues have been found in bee products. However, the effects of these pesticides on bees at the detected levels are not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the potential impacts of pesticide residues, including seven fungicides, six insecticides, and three herbicides, on gene expression and the activities of enzymes related to oxidative stress in bee workers. The enzymes studied were glucose oxidase, cytochrome P-450, acetylcholinesterase, general esterases, glutathione-S-transferase, butyrylcholinesterase, catalase, and adenosine triphosphatase. The results showed that chlorpyrifos (15.30 ng·ml-1), cypermethrin (10.72 ng·ml-1), and pendimethalin (3.42 ng·ml-1) significantly affected the gene expression and activities of the enzymes tested, while the control group and other pesticides did not. Untreated bees had higher specific enzyme activity and gene expression compared to most of the pesticides tested. Results from fludioxonil (14.45 ng·ml-1) and tolcophos (18.14 ng·ml-1) closely resembled those of the control group, indicating that these fungicides, at the tested concentrations, may not threaten bee health. This research offers valuable insights into the potential negative effects of pesticide residues on the physiological balance of bees.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have declared that no conflict of interests exist.