Effect of acanthocephalan infection on metal, total protein and metallothionein concentrations in European chub from a Sava River section with low metal contamination

Filipović Marijić, Vlatka; Vardić Smrzlić, Irena; Raspor, Biserka (2013) Effect of acanthocephalan infection on metal, total protein and metallothionein concentrations in European chub from a Sava River section with low metal contamination. Science of the Total Environment, 463/46 . pp. 772-780. ISSN 0048-9697

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Abstract

In the present study, the importance of considering fish intestinal parasites i.e. the acanthocephalans in metal exposure assessment was estimated under low metal contamination conditions. Two acanthocephalan species, Pomphorhynchus laevis and Acanthocephalus anguillae were examined in 59 specimens of European chub (Squalius cephalus L.) sampled at 5 locations along the Sava River, Croatia. Concentrations of essential (Cu, Mn) and non- essential (Ag, Cd, Pb) metals were higher in intestinal parasites than chub gastrointestinal tissue, but levels of essential metals Fe and Zn were comparable or lower in parasites, respectively. The highest accumulation in both acanthocephalan species was found for non- essential metals and followed the order: Ag>Pb>Cd. Higher infection intensity with P. laevis allowed us to present their spatial metal distribution and evaluate the influence of P. laevis on metal levels and sub-cellular biological responses (total protein and metallothionein levels) in the host infected with P. laevis. Even in the river section with low metal contamination, parasitism affected metal levels, resulting in lower Cu, Cd and Pb concentrations in chub infected with P. laevis than in uninfected chub. Although total protein and metallothionein levels remained constant in infected and uninfected chub, acanthocephalans should be considered a potential confounding factor in metal exposure assessments. Moreover, P. laevis-chub system can be suggested as an appropriate tool in biomonitoring, since in both species increased Cu and Cd concentrations towards the downstream locations were found. Higher Cu and Cd levels in P. laevis suggest acanthocephalans to be sensitive bioindicators if low metal levels have to be detected.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Financial support by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of Republic Croatia (project No. 098-0982934-2721) is gratefully acknowledged. The authors would also like to thank to all participants of the European FP6 SARIB Project (INCO-CT-2004-509160) for their valuable help in sample collection and to Dr. Nevenka Mikac, Dr. Vibor Roje and Zeljka Fiket, B.Sc. for useful advices concerning metal determination on HR ICP-MS.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Pomphorhynchus laevis; Acanthocephalus anguillae; Squalius cephalus; fish gastrointestinal tissue; trace metals
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Chemistry
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Stanične promjene u vodnih organizama pobuđene metalima- Marijana Erk 098-0982934-2721 MZOS Patologija organizama iz voda u odnosu na zagađivala i akvakulturu- Damir Kapetanović 098-0982934-2752 MZOS
Depositing User:	Vlatka Filipović Marijić
Date Deposited:	03 Sep 2020 09:58
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/3291
DOI:	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.06.041

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