title: A histopathological and biometric comparison between catfish (Pisces, Ariidae) from a harbor and a protected area, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Histopathological lesions and biometric variations in catfish species are statistically associated with chemical contaminant exposure. A histopathological and biometric database for the catfish Sciades herzbergii and Bagre bagre from São Luís Island (Port Area) and Caranguejos Island (Reference Area) is presented. Branchial and hepatic lesions were classified into three reaction patterns: 1) circulatory or inflammatory disturbances; 2) regressive changes; 3) progressive changes. This paper summarizes research efforts aimed at characterizing the biomonitoring potential of catfish from two islands in Brazil, which exhibit great habitat diversity and different levels of human intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The weights and lengths of the catfish caught at the Port Area were smaller than those from the Reference Area. No histopathological lesions were observed in S. herzbergii examined at the reference site (Caranguejos Island). In contrast, 90% of S. herzbergii from sites located in the Port Area (São Luís Island) had one or more types of branchial and hepatic lesions. One or more of the five lesions were observed on 16 B. bagre from São Luís Island and Caranguejos Island.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The utility of histopathological lesions and biometric data as sensitive indicators of the health of wild catfish populations has been demonstrated. Sciades herzbergii proved to be a better species for biomonitoring because it was more sensitive to the impacted site (Port Area) compared with the region relatively free of contaminants (Reference Area).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, State University of Maranhão (UEMA), São Luís, Maranhão Brazil.
authors.forename: Raimunda Nonata Fortes
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Carvalho Neta
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program of Aquatic Resources and Fishery (PPGRAP/UEMA), State University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Batista Pinheiro
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, State University of Maranhão (UEMA), São Luís, Maranhão Brazil.
authors.forename: Zafira da Silva
authors.initials: Zda S
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, State University of Maranhão (UEMA), São Luís, Maranhão Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Martins Silva
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, State University of Maranhão (UEMA), São Luís, Maranhão Brazil.
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tchaicka
keywords: Bagre bagre; Biomarkers; Biomonitoring; Sciades herzbergii