Azadirachtin, a Neem-Derived Biopesticide, Impairs Behavioral and Hematological Parameters in Carp (Cyprinus Carpio) Camila R. Murussi, 1 Charlene C. Menezes, 1 Mauro E. M. Nunes, 1 Maria do Carmo S. Ara ujo, 2 Vanessa A. Quadros, 1 Denis B. Rosemberg, 1 Vania L. Loro 1 1 Departamento De Bioqu  ımica E Biologia Molecular, Programa De P os-Graduac¸~ ao Em Bioqu  ımica Toxicol  ogica, Centro De Ci ^ encias Naturais E Exatas, Universidade Federal De Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900, Brazil 2 Setor De Hematologia/Oncologia, Hospital Universit ario De Santa Maria, Universidade Federal De Santa Maria, Campus Universit ario, Camobi, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul 97105-900, Brazil Received 4 September 2014; revised 12 March 2015; accepted 18 March 2015 ABSTRACT: Azadirachtin (Aza) is a promisor biopesticide used in organic production and aquaculture. Although this compound is apparently safe, there is evidence that it may have deleterious effects on fish. Behavioral and hematological tests are grouped into a set of parameters that may predict potential toxicity of chemical compounds. Here, we investigate the effects of Aza, in the commercial formulation Neenmax TM , on carp (Cyprinus carpio) by defining LC 50 (96 h), and testing behavioral and hematological parameters. In our study, LC 50 was estimated at 80 lL/L. We exposed carp to Aza at 20, 40, and 60 lL/L, values based on 25, 50, and 75% of LC 50 , respectively. At 60 lL/L, Aza promoted significant changes in several parameters, increasing the distance traveled and absolute turn angle. In addition, the same concentration decreased the time spent immobile and the number of immobile episodes. Hematological parameters, such as hemat- ocrit, hemoglobin, hematimetrics index, and red cell distribution, were decreased at 60 lL/L Aza exposure. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that 60 lL/L Aza altered locomotor activity, motor pattern, and hem- atological parameters, suggesting potential toxicity to carp after acute exposure. In addition, this is the first report that evaluates the actions of a chemical contaminant using automated behavioral tracking of carp, which may be a useful tool for assessing the potential toxicity of biopesticides in conjunction with hemato- logical tests. V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 00: 000–000, 2015. Keywords: azadirachtin; behavior; biopesticides; carp; hematological parameters INTRODUCTION Human society has used pesticides for several purposes, such as control of pests and disease vectors in agriculture. However, owing to the high concentrations used, pesticides may significantly impair the environment. The use of tradi- tional insecticides such as persistent organophosphates and organochlorines is hazardous to environments and biota. This has led to increasing interest in the use of alternative chemicals in agriculture (Devine and Furlong, 2007; Kumar et al., 2011). Plant-derived substances have potential as environmen- tally safe pesticides (Boeke et al., 2004). Biopesticides are increasingly accepted by farmers owing to the current trend for organic production that uses fewer agrochemicals (Cop- ping and Meen, 2000). One of the most promising natural Correspondence to: V. L. Loro and D. B. Rosemberg; e-mail: vania.loro@gmail.com and dbrosemberg@gmail.com Contract grant sponsor: Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). Published online 00 Month 2015 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI: 10.1002/tox.22143 V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 1