Toxicity of a neonicotinoid insecticide, guadipyr, in earthworm (Eisenia fetida)

• Guadipyr had no effect on the reproduction and growth of earthworm at concentrations below 100 mg/kg.
• Guadipyr exposure modified AChE, CAT and SOD activities in earthworm.
• Guadipyr did not cause DNA damage in earthworm coelomocytes at levels below 100 mg/kg.

Neonicotinoid insecticides are new class of pesticides and it is very meaningful to evaluate the toxicity of guadipyr to earthworm (Eisenia fetida). In the present study, effects of guadipyr on reproduction, growth, catalase(CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and DNA damage in earthworm were assessed using an artificial soil medium. Guadipyr showed low toxicity to earthworms and did not elicit an effect on earthworm reproduction or growth in artificial soils at concentrations <100 mg/kg. However, after exposure to guadipyr, the activity of SOD and CAT in earthworm increased and then decreased to control level. AChE activity decreased at day 3 at 50 and 100 mg/kg and then increased to control level. Our data indicate that guadipyr did not induce DNA damage in earthworms at concentration of <100 mg/kg.