Recent reports have stressed the need for a better understanding of earthworm biomarker responses. We aimed at investigating acethylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the earthworm Eisenia andrei after exposure to carbaryl or its commercial formulation Zoril 5 under different in vitro and in vivo experiments. In addition, lysosome membrane stability was assessed by neutral red retention assay in the same experimental conditions. AChE basal Km and Vm values were about 0.16 mM and 41 nmol min(-1) mg protein(-1), respectively. Carbaryl dose-dependently decreased Vmax, while not affecting Km values. Carbaryl reduced earthworm AChE activity within 1 day of in vivo exposure to contaminated filter paper. Tested on soil, carbaryl inhibited AChE with the maximum effect after 3 days; in contrast, lysosome membrane stability of coelomocytes indicated a maximum toxicity after one day, followed by a recovery. AChE inhibition by Zoril 5 was highest after one day, while lysosome membrane stability declined progressively. In all cases, carbaryl dose-dependently decreased Vmax while not affecting Km values. In conclusion, E. andrei AChE activity assessed in vitro is dose-dependently inhibited by the carbamate compound carbaryl, which acts as a pure competitive inhibitor. In vivo experiments suggested that pure and co-formulated carbaryl have different time and/or dose dependent effects on earthworms. Our results further support the use of AChE inhibition as an indicator of pesticide contamination, to be included in a battery of biomarkers for monitoring soil toxicity.