Estimación de la exposición de ganado lechero a plaguicidas organofosforados por la concentración de butirilcolinesterasa

Abstract

Abstract. Dairy production used organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) to control vectors of diseases and increase productivity; therefore, the milk can contain residues that are harmful to health. In order to estimate the exposure of livestock to total OPs, the concentration butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in blood serum were quantified, because the OPs inhibit the action of the enzyme. 84 Holstein cows classified as high-producers, low-producers, dry cows, and dairy calves were selected. The concentration of BChE (437.10 ± 53.59 U/L) is consistent with values reported by international literature. The high-producers group showed the lowest concentration (366.46 ± 26.84 U/L), suggesting a possible exposure to OPs in food and management. The value of BChE was similar between lowproducers and dairy calves. Dry cows showed the highest concentration (501.81 ± 27.25 U/L), which means less exposure to OPs. Calculated confidence intervals could be used at herd level, to detect alert situations when at least 5% of the cows in the sample were outside the reference.