title: Host-parasite relationships as determinants of heavy metal concentrations in perch (Perca fluviatilis) and its intestinal parasite infection.
abstract: The concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn and their bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were determined in two intestinal parasites, an acanthocephalan, Acanthocephalus lucii, a tapeworm, Proteocephalus percae, present in the same host, the European perch (Perca fluviatilis, L.), in the heavily polluted Ružín reservoir in eastern Slovakia. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the fish organs and parasites was studied for acanthocephalan and tapeworm monoinfections or mixed infections by the two parasites and for the size of their parasitic infrapopulations. Bioconcentration factors (c[parasite]/c[muscle tissue]) showed that the concentrations of As, Ni, Pb and Zn were higher in mixed infections than in monoinfections. Negative correlations between heavy metal concentrations in perch organs and the parasites were found. For example, higher concentrations of Ni and Zn in both parasite species corresponded with lower metal concentrations in perch and hard roe. Likewise, significant negative relationships between metal concentrations in fish organs and number of parasites were noticed with lower levels of Pb in fish harbouring higher numbers of tapeworms. Similarly, in both parasite species the concentrations of some essential elements (Cr, Mn) were lower at high infection intensities compared to low intensities. Our study revealed that the differential concentration of heavy metals in perch organs was affected by the type of infection (mono- or mixed-infection), and needs to be considered in field ecotoxicological and parasitological studies as a potentially important factor influencing the pollutant concentrations in fish.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: barciova@saske.sk.
authors.forename: Tímea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brázová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Vladimíra
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hanzelová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miklisová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Šalamún
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN (CINVESTAV-IPN) Unidad Mérida, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
authors.forename: Víctor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Vidal-Martínez
mesh_terms: D000049:Acanthocephala / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002589:Cestoda / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000187:drug effects*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D010471:Perches / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Acanthocephalus lucii; Bioaccumulation; Fish; Heavy metals; Parasites; Proteocephalus percae