title: Does fish reproduction and metabolic activity influence metal levels in fish intestinal parasites, acanthocephalans, during fish spawning and post-spawning period?
abstract: Application of fish intestinal parasites, acanthocephalans, as bioindicators in metal exposure assessment usually involves estimation of their metal levels and bioconcentration factors. Metal levels in parasite final host, fishes, are influenced by fish physiology but there is no data for acanthocephalan metal levels. Gastrointestinal Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, Ag levels in European chub (Squalius cephalus L.) from the Sava River were significantly higher during chub spawning (April/May) compared to the post-spawning period (September). In acanthocephalans (Pomphorhynchus laevis and Acanthocephalus anguillae) significantly higher metal levels during chub spawning were observed only for Zn in P. laevis. Bioconcentration factors were twice as high for Fe, Mn, Ag, Pb in the post-spawning period, probably as a consequence of lower gastrointestinal metal levels in fish rather than metal exposure. Therefore, bioconcentration factors should be interpreted with caution, due to their possible variability in relation to fish physiology. In addition, gastrointestinal Cu, Cd and Pb levels were lower in infected than uninfected chub, indicating that metal variability in fishes might be affected by the presence of acanthocephalans.
authors.affiliation: Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, P.O. Box 180, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: vfilip@irb.hr.
authors.forename: Vlatka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Filipović Marijić
authors.affiliation: Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, P.O. Box 180, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: ivardic@irb.hr.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vardić Smrzlić
authors.affiliation: Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, P.O. Box 180, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: raspor@irb.hr.
authors.forename: Biserka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Raspor
mesh_terms: D000049:Acanthocephala / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007422:Intestines / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Acanthocephalus anguillae; Bioconcentration factors; Essential and toxic metals; European chub; Fish physiology; Pomphorhynchus laevis