The effect of probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici on reduction of toxicity of diazinon to Artemia franciscana nauplii

In recent years, the use of bacteria is growing to research into the reduction of chemical pollutants. However, no information has been reported on the protective effect of these bacteria on living organisms, including Artemia. Thus, the effect of probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici on reduction of diazinon pesticide toxicity in Artemia franciscana was investigated. In the first, the lethal dose of diazinon toxin was determined on Artemia nauplii. Then five treatments of different probiotic concentrations (3.75×10⁶, 7.5×10⁶, 11.25×10⁶ and 15×10⁶ CFUmL^-1) were used to evaluate the reducing effect of the diazinon in the culture media of Artemia nauplii. For to this, five concentrations of 20 to 60 mgL^-1 were used to determine the 24h-LC₅₀ toxicant concentration in A. francicana, which at the lowest concentration, the mortality rate was more than 50% over a 24-hour period. In the second experiment, the concentrations of 12 to 18 mgL^-1 diazinon were used. Based on the results, the 24h-LC₅₀ lethal concentration was calculated as 12 mgL^-1. The amount of diazinon in different concentrations of probiotic bacteria was calculated by gas chromatography. Toxin removal was observed at 82% at the lowest bacterial concentration (7.5×10⁶ CFUmL^-1) and 95% at the highest density (22.5×10⁶ CFUmL^-1). Simultaneous addition of bacteria and diazinon significantly reduced Artemia mortality compared to the control treatment (p<0.05). However, in different probiotic treatments, bacterial concentrations showed no significant difference in Atremia mortality (p>0.05). The results of this study indicated that the probiotic P. acidilactici has a significant effect on reducing the toxicity of diazinon as an organophosphorus toxin. The results also showed that the simultaneous presence of diazinon and bacteria on the rate of Artemia mortality indicates the elimination and inactivation of the toxin by the bacteria.