Exposure to epoxiconazole induces hyperlocomotion in adult zebrafish

Global agricultural production is sustained by an elevated use of pesticides. Their application results in environmental contamination, which is demonstrated by widespread detections of these chemicals in water. This presence poses a risk to non-target organisms and ecological balance. Epoxiconazole (EPX) is the active compound of widely employed triazole fungicides, frequently reported as water contaminants. However, the behavioral effects of EPX exposure in non-target organisms, such as fish, remain unexplored. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of EPX (24, 144, and 240 μg/L) exposure on behavioral and neurochemical outcomes in zebrafish, at concentrations based on environmental detection. In the novel tank test, EPX exposure increased distance traveled, crossings, entries in the top area, and mean speed, indicating hyperlocomotion. No significant effects were observed in the social preference test and in the neurochemical analyses. These findings suggest that EPX exposure alters locomotor activity in zebrafish, highlighting the need for further research on its potential ecological impacts.