title: Histopathological survey of potential biomarkers for the assessment of contaminant related biological effects in species of fish and shellfish collected from Kuwait Bay, Arabian Gulf.
abstract: The marine environment in Kuwait is dominated by Kuwait Bay, a shallow, depositional habitat vital for the breeding and propagation of marine organisms. The bay receives effluent inputs from industrial centres, ports, sewage outflows along with discharges from power and desalination plants. The major classes of pollutant discharged into the bay include petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients, cooling water and hyper-saline water. Further, the bay has been historically impacted by a deliberate release of oil and contamination with ordnance and shipwrecks during the 1991 Gulf war. With an aim to establish an integrated pollution effects monitoring programme in Kuwait, this paper describes the application of a quality assured approach to conduct a histopathology baseline survey in oriental sole (Synaptura orientalis) and the large-toothed flounder (Pseudorhombus arsius), which are two potential sentinel flatfish species present in the Arabian Gulf. Liver and gonadal histopathology revealed a range of pathologies similar to those previously observed in European and American pollution effects surveys that utilise flatfish (including pathology markers indicative of possible carcinogenesis and endocrine disruption). Further, we extended these studies to invertebrates (Jinga prawn, Metapenaeus affinis and the grooved tiger prawn, Penaeus semisulcatus) found within the Arabian Gulf. Such baseline data is essential before attempts are made to develop integrated monitoring programmes that aim to assess the health of fish and shellfish in relation to chemical contamination.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB, UK.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Stentiford
authors.affiliation: Kuwait Environment Public Authority, P.O. Box 24395, Safat 13104, Kuwait.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Massoud
authors.affiliation: Kuwait Environment Public Authority, P.O. Box 24395, Safat 13104, Kuwait.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Mudhhi
authors.affiliation: Kuwait Environment Public Authority, P.O. Box 24395, Safat 13104, Kuwait; Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Kuwait University, Faculty of Science, P.O. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Sarawi
authors.affiliation: Kuwait Environment Public Authority, P.O. Box 24395, Safat 13104, Kuwait.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Enezi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB, UK. Electronic address: brett.lyons@cefas.co.uk.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061006:Bays; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003625:Data Collection; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005432:Flounder / Q000378:metabolism; D043143:Hepatopancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Crustacean; Disease; Fish; Health assessment; Histopathology; Kuwait bay