Cadmium and lead concentrations in Gallegoides arfaai (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) and Apodemus sylvaticus (Rodentia: Muridae) from Spain.
Information on parasites of vertebrates living in terrestrial ecosystems as sentinels for heavy metal environmental pollution is scarce. The aim of the present study was to assess the concentration of cadmium and lead using the model Apodemus sylvaticus/Gallegoides arfaai in order to test the potential suitability of G. arfaai as a sentinel organism for lead and cadmium under natural field conditions. Samples of 15 A. sylvaticus as well as whole specimens of G. arfaai were analysed for both elements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The level of cadmium in G. arfaai was always much lower than in the tissues of A. sylvaticus. Contrarily, values for lead in G. arfaai were found to be 6, 20 and 24-fold higher than in the kidney, liver and muscle of A. sylvaticus. We propose the model A. sylvaticus/G. arfaai as a promising bioindication system to evaluate environmental lead exposure in terrestrial habitats, especially for non-urban areas.
Torres
J
J
Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, sn, Barcelona, Spain. jtorres@ub.edu
de Lapuente
J
J
Eira
C
C
Nadal
J
J
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D002589:Cestoda / Q000737:chemistry*; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D009115:Muridae / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain
D015415:Biomarkers; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead