Low cost microbioassay test for assessing cytopathological and physiological responses of ciliate model Paramecium caudatum to carbofuran pesticide

One of the major changes that have occurred over the past few years is the re-examination of conventional methods and the global demand for innovative low cost bioassay tests for assessing water quality, toxicity evaluation and bioremediation. In the present study acute toxicity, physiological and cytotoxic impact of carbofuran to a commonly occurring fresh water ciliate was measured. Intrinsic cytotoxicity was evident on macro nuclear apparatus that exhibited deformities such as fragmentation, deep incision, vacuolization and degenerative macronucleus. Depletion in the food vacuole formation of Paramecia was evident. Changes in the pulsatory vacuole activity of Paramecium caudatum, highlighted dose dependent response by the test compound. The simplicity of handling this ciliate makes unicellular eukaryote, an alternative organism for the toxicity assessment of pollutants. The tests carried in this study are simple and fast, a bioassay that gives overall information about the physiological and cytotoxic effects of carbofuran to P. caudatum. Such bioassay tests using ciliates are more suitable for risk assessment of water quality, early detection of water pollution and possible role of ciliates as bioindicators and strategic tools in the bioremediation of water bodies.