title: The effects of oil exposure on peripheral blood leukocytes and splenic melano-macrophage centers of Gulf of Mexico fishes.
abstract: In August and November 2010 we collected and examined peripheral blood and tissues from three species of Gulf of Mexico fish. Findings were compared to non-exposed control fish. The leukocyte counts of exposed alligator gar were not significantly different from controls, while exposed Gulf killifish and sea trout had significantly decreased lymphocyte counts. Liver ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) values from sea trout were significantly greater than control sea trout EROD values, suggesting poly aromatic hydrocarbon exposure. Splenic melano-macrophage centers (MMCs) from exposed sea trout and Gulf killifish showed a significant increase in number compared to non-exposed fish. Sea trout splenic MMCs were also significantly greater in size. These findings suggest that Gulf fish sampled were exposed to crude oil from the Macondo well and were in a lymphopenic or immuno-compromised state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmad Omar
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
authors.forename: Lorelei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Dail
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pruett
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Electronic address: Lora@cvm.msstate.edu.
authors.forename: Lora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrie-Hanson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes; D060851:Gulf of America; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
keywords: Alligator gar; Fish health; Gulf killifish; Gulf oil spill; Sea trout