Parasite responses to pollution: what we know and where we go in 'Environmental Parasitology'.
Environmental parasitology deals with the interactions between parasites and pollutants in the environment. Their sensitivity to pollutants and environmental disturbances makes many parasite taxa useful indicators of environmental health and anthropogenic impact. Over the last 20 years, three main research directions have been shown to be highly promising and relevant, namely parasites as accumulation indicators for selected pollutants, parasites as effect indicators, and the role of parasites interacting with established bioindicators. The current paper focuses on the potential use of parasites as indicators of environmental pollution and the interactions with their hosts. By reviewing some of the most recent findings in the field of environmental parasitology, we summarize the current state of the art and try to identify promising ideas for future research directions. In detail, we address the suitability of parasites as accumulation indicators and their possible application to demonstrate biological availability of pollutants; the role of parasites as pollutant sinks; the interaction between parasites and biomarkers focusing on combined effects of parasitism and pollution on the health of their hosts; and the use of parasites as indicators of contaminants and ecosystem health. Therefore, this review highlights the application of parasites as indicators at different biological scales, from the organismal to the ecosystem.
Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, D-45141, Essen, Germany.|Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Bernd
B
Sures
Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, D-45141, Essen, Germany. milen.nachev@uni-due.de.
Milen
M
Nachev
Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
Christian
C
Selbach
Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, St. Lawrence Centre, 105 McGill Street, 7th floor, Montreal, QC, H2Y 2E7, Canada.|St. Andrews Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 531 Brandy Cove Road, St, Andrews, NB, E5B 2 L9, Canada.
David J
DJ
Marcogliese
D000818:Animals; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D010271:Parasites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants
Bioindication; Biomarker; Ecosystem health; Ecotoxicology; Endocrine disruption; Metal pollution; Parasites