title: Shark parasites as bio-indicators of metals in two South African embayments.
abstract: Concentrations of metals in the tissues of the sharks Callorhinchus capensis, Rhinobatos annulatus and Rhinobatos blochii collected in False Bay and Saldanha Bay, South Africa, in 2013 were investigated. Metal concentrations in the tissue of the parasites Gyrocotyle plana infecting the spiral intestine of C. capensis and Proleptus obtusus infecting the stomach of R. annulatus and R. blochii were also analysed. G. plana showed accumulation of arsenic (4073.52±5561.54 μg/g), manganese (522.16±578.21 μg/g), lead (64.87±101.7 μg/g), titanium (1821.42±1348.16 μg/g) and zinc (12439.57±9743.60 μg/g). These results when compared to baseline values, showed that accumulation of the metals in G. plana are orders of magnitude higher than those in the surrounding environment and 2 to 6 times the concentration of the surrounding host's tissues. These results show the usefulness of marine endoparasites as early warning indicators of heavy metal pollution.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Morris
authors: Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa.
authors: Annemariè
authors: A
authors: Avenant-Oldewage
authors: Fisheries Management, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay, Cape Town 8012, South Africa.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Lamberth
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa. Electronic address: cecile.reed@uct.ac.za.
authors: Cecile
authors: C
authors: Reed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002589:Cestoda / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012754:Sharks; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D017205:Spirurida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D013151:Spiruroidea / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bioaccumulation; Callorhinchus capensis; Parasites; Rhinobatos annulatus; Rhinobatos blochii; South Africa