title: Evaluation of environmental genotoxicity by comet assay in Columba livia.
abstract: The concentrations of recognized or suspected genotoxic and carcinogenic agents found in the air of large cities and, in particular, developing countries, have raised concerns about the potential for chronic health effects in the populations exposed to them. The biomonitoring of environmental genotoxicity requires the selection of representative organisms as "sentinels," as well as the development of suitable and sensitive assays, such as those aimed at assessing DNA damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate DNA damage levels in erythrocytes from Columba livia living in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico, compared with control animals via comet assay, and to confirm the results via Micronuclei test (MN) and DNA breakage detection-fluorescence in situ hybridization (DBD-FISH). Our results showed a significant increase in DNA migration in animals from the area assayed compared with that observed in control animals sampled in non-contaminated areas. These results were confirmed by MN test and DBD-FISH. In conclusion, these observations confirm that the examination of erythrocytes from Columba livia via alkaline comet assay provides a sensitive and reliable end point for the detection of environmental genotoxicants.
authors.affiliation: a Biological Sciences Faculty , Universidad Autónoma De Nuevo León, Laboratory of Ornithology , Monterrey , México .
authors.forename: Anahi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Acevedo
authors.affiliation: a Biological Sciences Faculty , Universidad Autónoma De Nuevo León, Laboratory of Ornithology , Monterrey , México .
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: García-Salas
authors.affiliation: b Unit of Genetics, Department of Biology , Universidad Autónoma De Madrid , Madrid , Spain .
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gosálvez
authors.affiliation: c Section of Genetics and Research Unit, Hospital Teresa Herrera, Complejo Hospitalario, Universitario Juan Canalejo , La Coruña , Spain .
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: d Department of Genetics , Centro De Investigación Biomédica Del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano Del Seguro Social , Monterrey , México , and.
authors.forename: Martha I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Dávila-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: e Nursing Faculty , Universidad Autónoma De Nuevo León , Monterrey , México.
authors.forename: Ricardo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cerda-Flores
authors.affiliation: d Department of Genetics , Centro De Investigación Biomédica Del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano Del Seguro Social , Monterrey , México , and.
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Méndez-López
authors.affiliation: d Department of Genetics , Centro De Investigación Biomédica Del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano Del Seguro Social , Monterrey , México , and.
authors.forename: Elva I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Cortés-Gutiérrez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010856:Columbidae; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004912:Erythrocytes; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants
keywords: Columba livia; DNA breakage detection–fluorescence in situ hybridization; comet assay; environmental genotoxicant; micronuclei; sentinel species