Contents of chemical elements in tissues of European badger (Meles meles) affected by ovarian tumour – a case report

Abstract

Higher concentrations of chemical elements in animal tissues may be associated with tumours and may explain cancerogenity. In this study, selected chemical elements were measured in the liver, kidneys, muscles and tissues affected by tumour in a dead female European badger (Meles meles) with a metastatic ovarian carcinoma. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for the assessment of concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc. AMA 254 analyser was used for the assessment of mercury concentration. Concentrations of heavy metals such as As, Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and total Hg amounted to 0. 031, 0.16, 7.74, 44.54, 0.67, 0.67, and 0.36 mg·kg -1 in the tumour tissue. This is the first detection of ovarian tumour in a European badger (Meles meles) which was systematically examined for the presence of chemical elements.

Potentially toxic element accumulation in badgers (Meles meles): a compositional approach

“…The European Badger (Meles meles) fit both these criteria, they excavate large quantities of soil compared with many other mammals of a similar ecology (Haussmann, 2017) and live gregariously in territories where individuals show divergent foraging strategies to avoid competition with family members (Robertson et al, 2014). Badgers also readily accumulate PTEs in their liver, muscle and kidney tissue (Ozimec et al, 2015;Ozimec et al, 2017) and adverse health impacts from PTE exposure have been documented (Bukovjan et al, 2014). Badgers also interact with soil to the extent of affecting the soil chemistry itself, by elevating pH and lowering soil total N in burrow mounds, demonstrating the extent to which the bioaccessibility pathway will affect PTE accumulation in badgers (Kurek, 2019).…”

Arsenic deposition in tissues of the European hare (Lepus europaeus)

“…Selected chemical elements including arsenic were also monitored in the tumours along with the study of these elements in various non-neoplastic tissues Bukovjan et al 2014). …”