Comparison of the metal accumulation capacity between the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis and larval nematodes of the genus Eustrongylides sp. infecting barbel (Barbus barbus)

Abstract

BackgroundMetal uptake and accumulation in fish parasites largely depends on the parasite group with acanthocephalans showing the highest accumulation rates. Additionally, developmental stage (larvae or adult) as well as parasite location in the host are suggested to be decisive factors for metal bioconcentration in parasites. By using barbel (Barbus barbus) simultaneously infected with nematode larvae in the body cavity and adult acanthocephalans in the intestine, the relative importance of all of these factors was compared in the same host.MethodsEleven elements Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), Selenium (Se), Tin (Sn), Vanadium (V) and Zinc (Zn) were analyzed in barbel tissues (muscle, intestine, liver) as well as in their acanthocephalan parasites Pomphorhynchus laevis and the larval nematode Eustrongylides sp. (L4) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).ResultsNine elements were detected in significantly higher levels in the parasites compared to host tissues. The element composition among parasites was found to be strongly dependent on parasite taxa/developmental stage and localization within the host. Intestinal acanthocephalans accumulated mainly toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb), whereas the intraperitoneal nematodes bioconcentrated essential elements (Co, Cu, Fe, Se, Zn).ConclusionOur results suggest that in addition to acanthocephalans, nematodes such as Eustrongylides sp. can also be applied as bioindicators for metal pollution. Using both parasite taxa simultaneously levels of a wide variety of elements (essential and non essential) can easily be obtained. Therefore this host-parasite system can be suggested as an appropriate tool for future metal monitoring studies, if double infected fish hosts are available.

Host-parasite relationships as determinants of heavy metal concentrations in perch (Perca fluviatilis) and its intestinal parasite infection

“…Similar results were obtained by number of authors (Brázová et al, 2012;Marjić et al, 2013;Jankovská et al, 2012 andNachev et al, 2013).…”

“…Moreover, they consider parasitic organisms of different developmental stages (adult versus larvae) or those occupying diverse sites (intestine, body cavity etc.) in the host, what makes it difficult for comparison with our results (Eira et al, 2009;Nachev et al, 2013;Khalil et al, 2014). Eira et al (2009) studied the heavymetal concentrations in two fish parasites, the cestode Proteocephalus macrocephalus and the nematode Anguillicola crassus, simultaneously parasitizing eels (Anguilla anguilla).…”

Environmental parasitology: Parasites as accumulation bioindicators in the marine environment

“…cestodes) only data for a few elements (Cd, Pb) were published so far. In contrast to freshwater ecosystems, where acanthocephalans and cestodes were suggested to be more appropriate sentinels for toxic metal pollution than nematodes (Nachev et al, 2013), the levels of metals recovered in marine nematodes suggest their suitability for metal biomonitoring.…”

Comparative study of element contents in seven isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes

“…Cd, Se, and Mn are part of several macromolecules and considered as essential elements for many organisms (Nachev et al, 2013). While Mn has proved to possess many positive effects on IJs of S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora, the roles of Cd and Se in EPN biology are yet unknown (Jaworska and Gorczyca, 1993, 2002).…”