Impact of the Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Rifampicin on the Feeding, Growth and Embryonic Developmental Profile of the Mosquitofish <i>Gambusia affinis</i>

Although the accumulation of pharmaceutical drugs in aquatic bodies has increased rapidly recent years, effect rifampicin (RIF), a first-line anti-tuberculosis drug, on fish feeding, growth, and embryonic development is unknown. This investigation aimed to determine impact RIF growth developmental profile mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. Experimental groups included controls, which were kept normal water for 21 days, whereas those second, third, fourth exposed 50, 200, 500 mg RIF/L water, respectively. The food intake rate Specific Growth Rate (SGR) showed concentration-dependent significant decrease RIF-treated compared with strong positive correlation was found between consumption SGR. A number embryos at an early stage total associated several congenital anomalies such as lack vitellogenin accumulation, yolk sac regression, decreased pigmentation, aggregations blood vessels, curvature spinal cord controls. Together, these results reveal first time that treatment not only impacts feeding but also exerts potential teratogenic stages G.