Dietary exposure of mink to carp from Saginaw Bay, Michigan: 2. Hematology and liver pathology

Abstract

The effects of consumption of environmental contaminants contained in carp (Cyprinus carpio) from Saginaw Bay, Michigan on various hematological parameters and liver integrity of adult female mink (Mustela vision) were determined. Mink were fed diets that contained 0 (control), 10, 20, or 40% carp prior to and throughout the reproductive period (182 days). The diets contained 0.015, 0.72, 1.53, and 2.56 mg polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)/kg diet and 1.0, 19, 40, and 81 pg 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs)/g diet, respectively. Mink fed the diets containing carp showed a general dose-dependent occurrence of clinical signs commonly associated with chlorinated hydrocarbon toxicity, including listlessness, nervousness when approached, anorexia, and melena. Erythrocyte counts were less in mink exposed to Saginaw Bay carp than in controls, while the number of white blood cells was greater than in controls. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils were also found between the control and carp-fed groups, but are considered to be of limited clinical or biological importance. Hematocrit values for the mink fed the 20 and 40% carp diets were significantly less than those of mink in the control and 10% carp groups. There were no significant differences in hemoglobin concentrations among the groups. Necropsies revealed enlarged yellowish livers in many of the carp-fed mink, especially those fed the 40% carp diet. Liver, spleen, and lung weights of carp-fed mink were significantly greater than those of control mink.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The H4IIE Cell Bioassay as an Indicator of Dioxin-like Chemicals in Wildlife and the Environment

“…The TCDD-EQs in control diets and diets containing 10%, 20%, and 40% carp were 1.0, 19.4, 40.0, and 80.8 pg/g, respectively . Reproductive toxicity was observed in all of the carp treatment groups (Heaton et al, 1995). Reduced body weights of kits born to females occurred in the 10% and greater carp diet treatments, and the 40% carp diet resulted in a significant decrease in the number of live kits born to females.…”

Environmental Contaminants in Fish and Their Associated Risk to Piscivorous Wildlife in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska

“…All PCB concentrations were less than conservative wildlife guidelines (100-110 ng/g) available for fish (IJC 1987;Newell et al 1987). TCDD-EQ was less than or equal to the LOD (1.7 pg/g) in all samples (i.e., dioxin-like activity was not detected in any sample), and all TCDD-EQs were less than the dietary toxicity thresholds for mammals (4.4 pg/g; Heaton et al 1995;Tillitt et al 1996) and birds (5.0 pg/g; Nosek et al 1992). …”

Comparing Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentrations and Patterns in the Saginaw River Using Sediment, Caged Fish, and Semipermeable Membrane Devices

“…High body-burdens of PCBs have been associated with reproductive problems in fish-eating birds and mammals in the Great Lakes, and particularly around Saginaw Bay (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11).…”