Several geographical areas where Salvator merianae is distributed in Argentina are included in regions with agricultural activity and exposed to pesticide formulations. Some pesticides could affect defense mechanisms being able alter structures of some components of immune and endocrine systems. To assess the potential effects of pesticides in this reptile under seminatural conditions, on the immune system and endocrine responses in S. merianae we analyzed several blood parameters. Total (TWBCC), differential (DWBCC) white blood cells count, heterophils/lymphocytes index (H/L), lobularity index (LI), natural antibodies (NAbs) titres, complement system (CS), and corticosterone concentration were analyzed in animals exposed to a mixture of cypermethrin (25%), glyphosate (66.2%) and chlorpyrifos (48%) formulations. In addition, body size was considered in these analyzes. TWBCC and NAbs revealed lower values in organisms exposed to pesticides respect to a control indicating a possible immunosuppression effect. Besides, the LI showed a greater number of lobes in organism exposed demonstrating symptoms of chronic infection. In addition, we observed a reduced growth in these animals possibly related to a less energy investment in body mass to maintain an active defense against pesticides. Finally, we found high levels of plasma corticosterone in animals exposed to mix formulation that could demonstrate neuroendocrine axis activation. Other parameters like DWBCC, H/L index and activity of CS showed no differences in treated animals respect to control group, which could indicate low sensibility of these parameters to the concentration of pesticides used. Our results provide evidence of the toxic effects of pesticides on different immune system parameters, but also a trade-off among these parameters, corticosterone levels and growth. In this way, we can conclude that the formulated pesticides applied widely and constantly in the areas occupied by S. merianae, would be affecting its immune and endocrine systems and therefore its ability to defend against external agents. This kind of studies is of great interest to know the possible responses of wild species to anthropogenic disturbances such as pesticide contamination.

具有农业活动并暴露于农药制剂的地区包括阿根廷分布有Salvator merianae的几个地理区域。一些农药可能会影响防御机制，从而改变免疫和内分泌系统某些成分的结构。为了评估农药的潜在影响在半自然条件下，这种爬行动物，免疫系统和内分泌反应在S. merianae我们分析了几种血液参数。对动物的总（TWBCC），差异（DWBCC）白细胞计数，嗜异性/淋巴细胞指数（H / L），小叶指数（LI），天然抗体（NAbs）滴度，补体系统（CS）和皮质酮浓度进行了分析暴露于氯氰菊酯（25％），草甘膦（66.2％）和毒死rif（48％）制剂的混合物中。此外，在这些分析中考虑了体型。与对照相比，TWBCC和NAbs在接触农药的生物中显示出较低的值，表明可能存在免疫抑制作用。此外，LI在暴露的生物体中显示出更多的裂片，显示出慢性感染的症状。此外，我们观察到这些动物的生长减少可能与减少对体重的能量投入有关，以保持对农药的积极防御。最后，我们在暴露于混合制剂的动物中发现了高水平的血浆皮质酮，可以证明其神经内分泌轴的激活。其他参数，如DWBCC，H / L指数和CS活性，与对照组相比，治疗动物无差异，这表明这些参数对所用农药浓度的敏感性较低。我们的结果提供了农药对不同免疫系统参数的毒性作用的证据，但也需要权衡这些参数，皮质酮水平和生长。这样，我们可以得出结论，配制的农药在被占领的地区广泛而持续地使用。与对照组相比，治疗动物的H / L指数和CS活性无差异，这可能表明这些参数对所用农药浓度的敏感性较低。我们的结果提供了农药对不同免疫系统参数的毒性作用的证据，但也需要权衡这些参数，皮质酮水平和生长。这样，我们可以得出结论，配制的农药在被占领的地区广泛而持续地使用。与对照组相比，治疗动物的H / L指数和CS活性无差异，这可能表明这些参数对所用农药浓度的敏感性较低。我们的结果提供了农药对不同免疫系统参数的毒性作用的证据，但也需要权衡这些参数，皮质酮水平和生长。这样，我们可以得出结论，配制的农药在被占领的地区广泛而持续地使用。S. merianae会影响其免疫和内分泌系统，从而影响其防御外部病原体的能力。这种研究对于了解野生物种对人为干扰（例如农药污染）的可能响应具有极大的兴趣。