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Environmental impacts of COVID-19 treatment: Toxicological evaluation of azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine in adult zebrafish

Research Authors
Juliana Moreira Mendonça-Gomes, Amanda Pereira da Costa Araújo, Thiarlen Marinho da Luz, Ives Charlie-Silva, Helyson Lucas Bezerra Braz, Roberta Jeane Bezerra Jorge, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed, Rafael Henrique Nóbrega, Christoph FA Vogel, Guilherme Malaf
Research Abstract

One of the most impact issues in recent years refers to the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of which thousands of deaths recorded worldwide, are still inferior understood. Its impacts on the environment and aquatic biota constitute a fertile field of investigation. Thus, to predict the impact of the indiscriminate use of azithromycin (AZT) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in this pandemic context, we aim to assess their toxicological risks when isolated or in combination, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system. In summary, we observed that 72 h of exposure to AZT and HCQ (alone or in binary combination, both at 2.5 μg/L) induced the reduction of total protein levels, accompanied by increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, reactive oxygen species and nitrite, suggesting a REDOX imbalance and possible oxidative stress. Molecular docking analysis further supported 

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Journal of Medical Entomology
Research Member
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
790
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721032009
Research Year
2021
Research Pages
148129