Tannic Acid, Some Heavy Metals and Bacterial Infection Affect Cellular Immunity and Antioxidant Enzymes of Hyphantria Cunea Drury (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) Larvae

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tannic acid, some heavy metals (nickel, zinc and copper) and their combinations, and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki infection on the catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes and hemocyte count of Hyphantria cunea larvae. For this purpose, 1 diet was prepared by adding tannic acid to 5% concentration of dry weight in the control diet. Nickel, zinc, and copper solutions were prepared and 3 diets were made and 3 diets were made with tannic acid and heavy metal combinations. All analyzes were determined by ANOVA-Dunnet test. The hemocyte count was the highest in the larvae fed with the control diet. Hemocyte counts of all groups increased with infection compared to control groups. SOD, CAT and GPx activities of the larvae fed with heavy metals and tannic acid diet increased compared to the larvae fed with the control diet. Synergistic and antogonistic effects were observed in some groups where heavy metals and tannic acid were combined.