ePO 129 – BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF CYPROCONAZOLE IN EISENIA FETIDA

Triazole fungicides are widely used in modern agriculture to safeguard crop productivity, yet their environmental persistence and mobility raise significant One Health concerns by linking agricultural practices to soil ecosystem integrity and, ultimately, animal and human health. Cyproconazole (CPZ), a commonly applied triazole, targets fungal CYP51 but can also interfere with redox balance and neurophysiological processes in non-target organisms, potentially disrupting soil-based services essential for sustainable food systems. In this study, we investigated the biochemical and behavioral responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida, a key sentinel species for soil health, following acute (96 h) and chronic (28-day) exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of CPZ. Biomarkers associated with Phase I metabolism (CYP3A4), antioxidant defenses (CAT and GPx), oxidative damage (TBARS), neurotoxicity (ChE), and avoidance behavior were assessed to elucidate CPZ-induced effects across biological levels. Acute exposure to CPZ triggered pronounced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. Antioxidant responses were dysregulated, with increased in TBARS levels. Notably, earthworms did not avoid CPZ-contaminated soil and instead showed a tendency to remain in treated substrates, a behavior that may intensify exposure and amplify physiological stress. Under chronic exposure, earthworms exhibited partial physiological acclimation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that CPZ disrupts key physiological and behavioral processes in E. fetida, with acute exposure characterized by oxidative and neurotoxic stress and chronic exposure marked by metabolic inhibition and adaptive shifts. From a One Health perspective, such sublethal effects on soil invertebrates highlight potential cascading consequences for soil function, agroecosystem resilience, and the long-term sustainability of food production systems that underpin animal and human well-being.