Toxicity of mefentrifluconazole enantiomers on multiple stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Mefentrifluconazole is a new chiral triazole fungicide with high efficiency and broad spectrum. Zebrafish embryos, larvae and adults were exposed to mefentrifluconazole racemate and enantiomers to investigate aquatic toxicity of mefentrifluconazole at the enantiomer level. Acute toxicity tests were conducted to determine the lethality of mefentrifluconazole. The developmental toxicity of mefentrifluconazole to embryos and larvae was also assessed during acute exposure. Besides, the growth parameters of adults were evaluated after 14 days’ exposure. The 96-h LC50 ranges of rac-, R-(−)- and S-(+)-mefentrifluconazole to all zebrafish life-stages were 0.753–1.198, 1.092–2.022 and 0.583–1.056 mg/L respectively. Larvae were the most sensitive to mefentrifluconazole in terms of lethality, followed by embryos and adults. During acute exposure, morphological deformities caused by mefentrifluconazole, such as yolk sac edema and pericardial edema in embryos, as well as pericardial edema and spinal curvature in larvae were discovered. Besides, mefentrifluconazole induced significant developmental defects, including inhibited heartbeat and reduced body length in both embryos and larvae. After 14 days’ mefentrifluconazole exposure, severe growth inhibition in adult zebrafish was observed. Mefentrifluconazole shows enantioselective toxicity in all stages of zebrafish, and the order of toxicity is S-(+)-mefentrifluconazole > rac-mefentrifluconazole > R-(−)-mefentrifluconazole. Further study is required to explore the specific enantioselective mechanism. Our findings enable a better understanding of the potential risk of mefentrifluconazole to aquatic ecosystems at the enantiomer level.