title: Contaminant concentrations, biochemical and hematological biomarkers in blood of West Indian manatees Trichechus manatus from Brazil.
abstract: The West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus is threatened with extinction in Brazil, and this study focused on nondestructive blood samples analyzed for metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), as well as biochemical and hematological biomarkers. Studied manatees were kept at Projeto Peixe-Boi headquarters in Pernambuco State, and at two natural areas in estuaries where they are released to the wild. Manatees kept at the natural estuary in Paraiba State have blood concentrations of Al, Pb, Cd, Sn that are 11, 7, 8 and 23 times greater, respectively, than the concentrations found in blood of animals from the same species in Florida, USA. An inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase in manatees kept at the two reintroduction sites in Alagoas and Paraiba States indicated possible exposure of the animals to cholinesterase inhibitor insecticides. PCBs and OCPs were not detected. Results from this study will help delineate conservation efforts in the region.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - UFPE, Zoology Department, Recife, Brazil. dai_anzolin@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Anzolin
authors.forename: J E S
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sarkis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: J C G
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Montone
authors.forename: A C D
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bainy
authors.forename: P S M
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008670:Metals / Q000097:blood; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood; D020457:Trichechus manatus / Q000097:blood*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase