Experimental assessment of beauvericin toxicity in tadpoles of Dendropsophus minutus (Anura: Hylidae)

Abstract

Beauvericin (BEA) is an emerging mycotoxin frequently detected in food and feed, raising concerns about its toxicological risks for One Health. This study evaluated the acute toxicity of BEA in tadpoles of Dendropsophus minutus, a bioindicator species of environmental toxicity, after a 96-h exposure. Tadpoles were exposed to three concentrations of BEA, with vehicle (DMSO), positive (cyclophosphamide), and negative (water) controls. Outcomes included survival, genotoxicity (comet assay), mutagenicity (micronucleus test), leukocyte profiles, redox status markers, and liver histopathology. Exposure to BEA did not induce genotoxicity; however, it resulted in mutagenic effects, with an increase in reniform nuclei and a decrease in anucleated erythrocytes, and hepatotoxicity characterized by sinusoidal congestion, reduced hepatocyte cytoplasmic volume, and increased connective tissue. Elevated levels of nitric oxide and carbonyl proteins were observed, indicating oxidative stress, while antioxidant enzymes and acetylcholinesterase activity remained unchanged. These findings demonstrate that BEA induces mutagenic, cytotoxic, and hepatotoxic effects in amphibians, highlighting its potential ecological impact and relevance for One Health risk assessment.