Bioencapsulation of Fenbendazole in Adult Artemia

Fenbendazole was detected in adult brine shrimp tissue (bioencapsulation) after enrichment periods of 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours in baths that contained 2-, 4-, and 8-g/L concentrations of fenbendazole. The assays were performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. A biphasic pattern of peak concentrations at 30 minutes or 1 hour and again at 8 or 12 hours was seen in the shrimp for all treatment concentrations. Percent of fenbendazole available that was incorporated in Artemia approached 100% for all treatment groups. Survival of shrimp was not affected by any of the fenbendazole concentrations, but animal deaths increased with time in all treatment concentrations. It can be concluded that fenbendazole can be successfully bioencapsulated in adult Artemia.