Eisenia fetida andrei

Pentachlorophenol applied to beech forest soils every 2 months for 2 years at the rate of 1.0 g/m2 markedly reduced populations of soil organisms. At 5.0 g/m2, it drastically reduced most of the soil animal species and also the microflora (Zietz et al. 1987). Reduction of the soil metabolism by PCP retards decomposition and affects the overall nutrient balance of forest ecosystems (Zietz et al. 1987). Pentachlorophenol is more toxic to earthworms in soils with comparatively low levels of organic materials. The LC50 (14-day) value for Lumbricus rubellus was 1094 mg PCP/kg DW soils with 6.1% organic matter, and 883 mg/kg DW soils with 3.7% organic matter (Van Gestel and Ma 1988). The earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei is more sensitive than Lumbricus rubellus ... 

Staint-Dernis, M. Narbonne, J.F. Amaud, C. Ribera, D. Biochemical responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei exposed to contaminated artificial soil effects of lead acetate. Soil Biol. Biochem. 2001, 33, 395-404. 

Earthworm, Eisenia fetida 32 mg/kg DW soil for 56 days 53.3 (32.5-186.0) mg/kg DW soil for 56 days 210 mg/kg DW soil for 56 days 555 (460-678) mg/kg DW soil for 56 days 683 (570-812) mg/kg DW soil for 14 days Earthworm, Eisenia fetida andrei Adults held in soil containing as much as 300 mg Cu/kg DW for 3 weeks resultant cocoons incubated in uncontaminated soil for 5 weeks to assess hatchability Earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus 100-150 mg/kg DW soil 150-300 mg/kg DW soil >300 mg/kg DW soil 1000 mg/kg DW soil for 6 weeks Earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris Exposed for 5 days to filter paper disc containing 0.5, 1,2, 4, or 8 pg Cu/cm ... 

Ville, P., Roch, P., Cooper, E.L. and Narbonne, J.F. (1997) Immuno-modulator effects of carbaryl and 2,4-D in the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 32, 291-297. 

OECD Draft Document, January 2000, OECD guideline for the testing of chemicals. Earthworm reproduction test Eisenia fetida/andrei). 

Roch, P., Valembois, P. and Lassegues, M, 1980, Biochemical particulars of the antibacterial factor of the two subspecies Eisenia fetida fetida and Eisenia fetida andrei. American Society of Zoologists. 20, 794. 

Saint-Denis et al. (1999) studied the effect of different concentrations and different exposition times to PAHs, on the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei. According to the authors, this chemical was metabolized, both by the CYP via, and by the free radicals oxidation via. 

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (2004b) OECD Guideline for the Testing of Chemicals, Earthworm Reproduction Test (Eisenia fetida/Eisenia Andrei), OECD 222, adopted 13 April 2004. 

The effects of nitramine EM on soil invertebrates are summarized in Table 3.3. Studies with RDX or HMX showed no adverse effect on survival of adult earthworms Eisenia fetida Savigny up to 500 mg kg-1 in artificial soil or in natural soils [41,42], Survival of adult E. andrei Bouche was unaffected up to 756 mg kg1 RDX in artificial soil in a study by Robidoux et al. [43], These authors [43] observed significant adverse effects of RDX on the reproduction (productivity of hatched cocoons and juveniles number of juveniles per hatched cocoon) at 189 mg kg-1 and on production of juveniles (total number, mass, and number per cocoon) at 95 mg kg1. Schafer and Achazi [44] reported no effects on mortality and reproduction of enchytraeid worm (potworm) Enchytraeus albidus Henle and collembola Folsomia Candida Willem... 

Fluorescence fingerprints of Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei... 

NMR studies performed on tissue extracts on the coelomic fluid of Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida allowed to distinguish the two species one from each otlier (Bmidy et al. 2002). We have seen in all over this book that fluorescence spectroscopy can detect differences that occur on the structural and dynamical levels purified macromolecules. The following data will show that it is possible to use fluorescence spectroscopy to detect differences in the cells at the structural and the metabolical levels. 

The fluorescence excitation spectrum of a fluorophore characterizes the electron distribution of the molecule in the ground state. Thus, it helps to identify the structure and / or the nature of the emitting molecule. The fluorescence excitation spectrum recorded on the coelomic fluid of Eisenia andrei shows that the fluorophore absorbs at a peak equal to 314 nm at pH 8 (Fig. 10.3). Fluorescence properties of the emitting fluorophore are characteristic of the 4-methylumbelliferyl p-D-glucoronide (MUGlcU) (Molecular Probes, 1992-1994). The absence of fluorescence in Eisenia fetida indicates that the metabolism of this substrate is inhibited by one or many enzymes present only in the coelomic fluid of Eisenia fetida. 

In presence of coelomic fluid, FNS shows a significant fluorescence. However, the position of the peak varies with the origin of the coelomic fluid. In fact, the emission peak of TNS is equal to 397 nm and 410 nm for Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida, respectively (Fig. 10.4). This difference is the result of the contribution of the emission of the coelomic fluid to the recorded emission spectrum. In fact, since there is no fluorescence occurring from the coelomic fluid of Eisenia fetida., the observed emission in presence of TNS is from the extrinsic fluorophore only. Meanwhile, the spectrum recorded for Eisenia andrei is the result of the contribution of both TNS and the natural fluorophore present in the coelomic fluid. Experiments with TNS confirm the fact that coelomic fluids of Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida differ, i.e., the metabolism of the two earthworms is not the same. 

In conclusion, fluorescence data shown indicates clearly that Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida display different molecular composition in their coelomic fluid and thus have different metabolisms. This work reveals for the first time the possibility of using fluorescence spectroscopy as a tool to perform taxonomic studies. 

Albani, J. R., Demuynck, S., Grumiaux, F. and Lepretre, A, 2003, Fluorescence fingerprints of Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei. Photochemistry and Photobiology. 78, 599-602.. 

ISO/CD 17512-1 Soil quality - Avoidance test for testing the quality of soils and effects of chemicals on behavior. Part 1 Test with earthworms (Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei). 

Figure 10.4. Normalized fluorescence emission spectra of coelomic fluid of Eisenia andrei = 370 nm) (a), of TNS bound to Esenia andrei 397 nm (b) and of TNS bound to Esenia fetida 410 nm (c). Xex 320 nm. Temperature 20°C and pH = 8.

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