Evaluation the effectiveness of Chrysomya marginalis maggots extract in controlling land snail Theba pisana

Abstract

      Maggots of some blowflies (Diptera: calliphoridae) are typically used in a wide range of medical and forensic applications. One of these flies is Chrysomya marginalis. This fly has not received attention in the researches in Egypt. Accordingly, we start to examine the effect of Chrysomya marginalis maggots extract on the land snails. Nevertheless, the effect of this extract on the environment is still under research. Thus, the present investigation was performed to determine the median lethal concentration of Chrysomya marginalis maggots extract (96-h LC₅₀) and to evaluate the effectiveness of maggots extract in controlling land snails Theba pisana by measuring levels of biochemical, oxidative and antioxidant parameters and the analysis at the molecular level. The results showed that LC₅₀ of maggots extract for T. pisana for 96 hrs was 235.5 g/l. 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10 LC₅₀ (117.75, 58.875 and 23.55 g/l) values were chosen for sublethal studies for 28 days. The results indicated that aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine transferase (ALT) levels were significantly higher, while total protein (TP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hexokinase (HK) and pyruvate kinase (PK) levels were significantly higher in maggots extract-exposed snail compared to the control. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were significantly higher, while catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly higher in maggots extract-exposed snail as opposed to the control group. A significant down-regulation was noticed in gene expression levels of Cu-Zn SOD in the exposed group. On the other hand, exposure to tested extract caused significantly up-regulated gene expression levels of HSP 70 compared with the control group. In conclusion, Chrysomya marginalis maggots extract caused alteration in biochemical, and antioxidant activities and gene expressed changes.