PARR-2011-QC-15
Cumulative impacts, kinetics and tissue distribution of anti- sea lice pesticides in non-target organisms

This research uses oxidative stress biomarkers to assess the sublethal and cumulative impacts of sea lice treatments (AlphaMax^® [deltamethrin] and Salmosan^® [azamethiphos]) on non-target organisms. Kinetic studies will be conducted to assess the bioaccumulation rate and persistence of AlphaMax^® in shrimp and lobster tissue. Damage caused by oxidative stress (lipid and protein oxidation) will be assessed after exposing shrimp and lobster to Salmosan^® in the laboratory for long periods of time. The connection between this biochemical damage, histological lesions and resistance to stress will be assessed in adult lobster. The sublethal impacts on organisms exposed to mesocosms will also be assessed. Bioaccumulation speed and tissue distribution in shrimp and lobster will be assessed using macroautoradiography and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with flow scintillation counting (HPLC-FSC) at environmentally-realistic doses by using radiolabelled ¹⁴C deltamethrin. Macroautoradiography is a nuclear technique used to quantitatively determine the distribution of a chemical product labelled with a radioactive atom such as ¹⁴C in thin cryosections (0.05 mm) of an entire animal. Preliminary work will also be conducted before assessing the bioavailability of deltamethrin adsorbed in suspended particulate that settles at the bottom. (This project is a complementary project to PARR-2011-M-01)

Principal investigator: Catherine Couillard, DFO-Quebec region, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, 850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, QC. Tel: 418-775-0681

Team: Claude Rouleau, DFO-Quebec region; Benoît Légaré, DFO-Quebec region; Sylvie St. Pierre, DFO-Quebec region

Collaborators: L. E. Burridge, DFO-Maritimes region; Andrew Cooper, DFO-Maritimes region; Susan Waddy, DFO-Maritimes region