Teratogenic effect of electric mosquito repellents on mouse (Mus musculus) fetuses

Introduction: This study aims to determine the teratogenic effects of electric mosquito repellents on mouse (Mus musculus) fetuses. The electric mosquito repellent used contains the active ingredient dimefluthrin 0.566% (4.2 mg/matt) which was inhaled into pregnant mice during the organogenesis period of 6-15 days of gestation.
Material and Methods: A total of 30 pregnant mice were divided into five groups with six repetitions, namely C: Control group (without exposure to electric mosquito repellent), T1: exposed to electric mosquito repellent for 4 hours/day, T2: exposed to electric mosquito repellent 6 hours/day, T3: exposed to electric mosquito repellent 8 hours /day, and T4: exposed to electric mosquito repellent 10 hours/day. Parameters tested including fetal weight and length were analyzed using One-Way Anova and then continued with Duncan test. Live fetuses (%), dead fetuses (%), and morphological abnormalities (%) were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and continued with the Mann-Whitney test.
Results: This study found that there were no gross morphological abnormalities, however hemorrhage was found on the skin surface. The results showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the weight and length of the fetus, live fetus (%), dead fetus (%), and hemorrhage (%).
Discussion: The highest rates of fetal death and hemorrhage were shown in the T4 treatment (exposed to electric mosquito repellents 10 hours/day). Dimefluthrin enters the body of pregnant mouse as a substance that forms reactive oxygen species (ROS). Blood vessel cells that are exposed to ROS and have oxidative stress will be damaged and even die so that the blood vessels become brittle and break easily.