Biomarkers in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) for the assessment and monitoring of water quality of the St Lawrence River (Canada)

Interspecies comparison of selected pollution biomarkers in dreissenid spp. inhabiting pristine and moderately polluted sites

“…In the current study, investigated mussels showed insignificant temporal and spatial variability in the condition index and total protein content, suggesting their closely similar physiological states. The range of biomarker levels (MT, EROD, LPO, DNA_sb, Vtg) detected in dreissenids inhabiting Lake Balaton were comparable with previously reported data for zebra mussels populating various aquatic habitats, either pristine-or affected by certain anthropogenic impact, as the St Lawrence River in Canada (de Lafontaine et al, 2000), Lago Maggiore in Italy (Binelli et al, 2005) or Lough Ree in Ireland (Quinn et al, 2011). Moreover, the spatial and temporal alternation of these biomarkers fell within ranges and followed similar pattern with that previously reported for pure D. bugensis populations inhabiting Lake Balaton (Ács et al, 2016).…”

“…Both mechanisms imply an excessive ROS formation that leads finally to oxidative cell damage, including proteins, lipids and DNA (Livingstone, 2001). Induction of the antioxidant system was proven to usually imply both significant rise in DNA damage and lipid peroxidation (de Lafontaine et al, 2000;Barhoumi et al, 2012;Maranho et al, 2015). As in the dreissenids populating the pristine site just moderate increase in DNA_sb with unaltered LPO status were observed by October, we consider that rise in MT and Vtg levels were most probably related to the progression of gametogenesis in mussels.…”

“…Significantly higher elevation in metallothioneins compared to that observed in the pristine area was apparent for dreissenids from three harbours (H1, H3, H4), while moderate rise in EROD activity (by 70-and 35%, respectively) was recorded in two harbours (H1, H4). Although EROD activity assessment in bivalves was considered a disputable method in outlining exposure to organic chemicals (Viarengo et al, 2007), we have included this endpoint based on evidences of significant induction of CYP-like enzymes and associated mixed function oxidase components in mussels either in in situ studies (de Lafontaine et al, 2000;Binelli et al, 2005;Okay et al, 2014) or laboratory experiments (Faria et al, 2009;Martin-Diaz et al, 2009;Sapone et al, 2016). Our results outlined just moderate spatial and temporal variability in the EROD activity of dreissenids inhabiting the investigated sites therefore, we considered for the moment these results as inconclusive.…”

“…The range of contaminants accumulated in bivalves inform about the contamination status of the habitat where they live in an integrated way, while the cellular and molecular alterations eventually evolved in these bioindicator organisms inform about the relevance of that contamination. (Goldberg, 1975;de Lafontaine et al, 2000;Galloway et al, 2004;Smolders et al, 2004;Minier et al, 2006). It has been recognized, however, that a range of biomarkers routinely screened in cells, body fluids, tissues and organs of bioindicator organisms to interpret contamination impacts, primarily participate in the normal homeostasis of the organism, therefore, they are significantly influenced also by several environmental and biological factors.…”

“…In the pollution assessment of freshwater habitats the zebra mussel D. polymorpha proved to be an efficient sentinel organism because its ecophysiological features (abundance, wide distribution, high filtration rate, and ability to accumulate large amounts of anthropogenic contaminants) enabled reliable in situ habitat contamination evaluations (Kraak et al, 1991;de Kock and Bowmer, 1993;Roper et al, 1996). More recently, zebra mussels have been successfully used even in integrated biomarker assessment studies when bioaccumulated contaminant data revealed good correlation with alterations of several cellular-molecular biomarker endpoints in these mussels (de Lafontaine et al, 2000;Minier et al, 2006;Contardo-Jara et al, 2009;Faria et al, 2010). Focused research provided relevant information about the natural variability of biomarker responses in zebra mussels, particularly related to seasonality and reproduction status, that helped establish validated biomonitoring approaches for the assessment of the environmental significance of chemical contamination in freshwater habitats (Stoeckmann and Garton, 2002;Binelli et al, 2005;Guerlet et al, 2007;Faria et al, 2014).…”