Toxicity of hydroxychloroquine, a potential treatment for COVID-19, on free-living marine nematodes
Ben Ali, M.; Hedfi, A.; Almalki, M.; Karachle, P.K.; Boufahja, F. (2021). Toxicity of hydroxychloroquine, a potential treatment for COVID-19, on free-living marine nematodes. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 167: 112361. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112361
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more
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| Keywords |
Food > Human food > Seafood
Nematoda [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
COVID-19 crisis, Hydroxychloroquine, Ecotoxicity, Free-living marine nematodes, Seafood |
| Authors | | Top |
- Ben Ali, M.
- Hedfi, A.
- Almalki, M.
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- Karachle, P.K.
- Boufahja, F.
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| Abstract |
On March 2020, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was recommended as a treatment for COVID-19 high risk patients. Following the massive and widespread use of HCQ worldwide, a discernible high quantity is anticipated to end-up through the sewage systems in marine coastal areas. A closed microcosm study was undertaken herein for 30 days where meiobenthic nematodes were exposed to a range of HCQ concentrations (3.162, 31.62 and 63.24 μg.ml−1). After one month of exposure in HCQ, the total abundances and Shannon-Wiener index of the assemblages decreased, whereas the individual mass and the Trophic Diversity Index increased at the highest concentrations. Overall, a numerical negative impact was observed for the epistrate feeders and non-selective deposit feeders, however, this benefited to the omnivores-carnivores, and particularly to the Oncholaimids. Such responses of the nematodes 2B and the corresponding taxa are bioindicative of current- or post-COVID-19 crisis risks in relation with the bioaccumulation of HCQ in seafood. |
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