Toxicity of two tetracycline antibiotics on Stentor coeruleus and Stylonychia lemnae: Potential use as toxicity indicator

The environmental toxicity of tetracycline antibiotics to aquatic organisms has attracted increasing attention. The adverse impacts of tetracycline antibiotics on ciliates should be detailed considering the significant roles of protozoa in the microfood web in the soils and other eco-systems. This study for the first time investigated the toxicity of two typical tetracycline antibiotics, tetracycline (TC) and tetracycline hydrochloride (HTC) on two primary model ciliates, Stentor coeruleus and Stylonychia lemnae. The concentrations for 50% of maximal effect (24h‒EC50) of TC and HTC to Stentor coeruleus were 94.4 mg/L and 8.39 mg/L, respectively. Correspondingly, the 24h‒EC50 values of TC and HTC to Stylonychia lemnae were 40.1 mg/L and 14.0 mg/L, respectively. The TC and HTC inhibited the growth rates, reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and damaged the ultra-structures of the tested ciliate cells, with the latter having larger impacts than the former. Based on the experimental works reported herein, the two model protozoan species were proposed to be the toxicity indicators for tetracycline antibiotics, which could work as supplements with the other existing protocols, such as Brochydanio rerio (zebrafish), Limnodrilus (a worm), Chlorogonium elongatum (a green alga) also studied herein. •Eco-toxicity of two tetracycline antibiotics on two model ciliates were evaluated.•Tetracycline hydrochloride is more toxic than tetracycline to the tested ciliates.•Tetracycline antibiotics can damage the ultrastructures of the ciliates.•The Stentor coeruleus and Stylonychia lemnae can be used as a toxicity indicator.