Abstract
Uptake of five chemical forms of erythromycin by adult Artemia salina (L.) (erythromycin phosphate – EP, erythromycin stearate – ES, erythromycin estolate – EE, erythromycin hydrate – EH and crystalline erythromycin – CE) was investigated in two trials. In each trial, final erythromycin concentration in Artemia tissue and survival after a 12‐h bioencapsulation period were determined. In the first trial, Artemia tissue concentration after a 12‐h bioencapsulation period was significantly ( P −1 , mean ± SEM) ≈ EH (61.2 ± 3.4 μg mL −1 ) > CE (37.1 ± 10.7 μg mL −1 ) > EP (16.4 ± 7.7 μg mL −1 ) > control. In trial 2, Artemia tissue concentration was also significantly ( P −1 ) > CE (89.1 ± 1.7 μg mL −1 ) > ES (78.9 ± 1.6 μg mL −1 ) > EP (33.4 ± 5.2 μg mL −1 ) > control. Survival was significantly affected by erythromycin form in trial 1 with EP=control (100 ± 0.0%) > ES (74.4 ± 2.0%) > CE (32.2 ± 0.3%) > EH (8.8 ± 4.4%). In trial 2, survival was also significantly affected by erythromycin form with EP=control (100 ± 0.0%) > ES (67.1 ±3.7%) > CE (52.5 ± 7.7%) > EE (5.0 ± 2.5%). Based on both uptake and survival, EP and ES appear to be appropriate compounds for bioencapsulation of erythromycin using live adult Artemia .