Efeito da azitromicina no ciclo de desenvolvimento de Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: calliphoridae)

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the pandemic scenario spanning from 2020 through 2022, the antibiotic azithromycin was extensively utilized as part of the "COVID kit" during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to analyze the effects of azithromycin on biometric aspects of Chrysomya megacephala, including mass gain, size, and developmental cycle duration. Methods: Two hundred eggs per treatment were used in assays, maintained in an insectary and reared in plastic containers with raw minced meat supplemented with azithromycin at three concentrations: D1 (30μl), D2 (60μl), and D3 (120μl). Monitoring was conducted at the Insect and Vector Laboratory (LIVe) every six hours, assessing emergence inhibition, duration of each developmental stage, and measurements of mass and size. Results and Discussion: Individuals exposed to azithromycin showed increased mass during larval periods, up to double that of the control, and larger size. Regarding emergence inhibition, D2 and D3 treatments exhibited lower rates, at 7.56% and 27.73%, respectively. Group D1 recorded the highest inhibition rate at 64.71%. The developmental cycle duration for azithromycin-treated groups showed a 6-hour advancement in the larval stage compared to the control, with a similar trend observed in the pupal stage. Emergence also occurred 24 hours earlier than the control group across all concentrations. Conclusion: Bioassays demonstrate that azithromycin affected biometric parameters of C. megacephala, influencing mass gain and size during immature stages, as well as altering the total developmental cycle duration and emergence inhibition. These findings highlight the ecological implications of azithromycin use, suggesting potential impacts on insect populations and ecological processes in environments where such antibiotics may be introduced.