Experimental studies on the lead accumulation in the cestode Moniezia expansa (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) and its final host (Ovis aries)

Abstract

The tapeworm Moniezia expansa and naturally infected sheep were investigated with respect to their lead accumulation. Lead-Pb(CH(3)COO)(2) was added to the distilled water and administered orally to the sheep every day for a period of 1 week. After the exposure period the sheep were killed and the metal levels were determined in the muscle, liver, kidney and blood of the sheep as well as in the cestode parasites (Moniezia expansa). The impact of an infection with the cestode Moniezia expansa and a simultaneous Pb exposure, on the concentrations of heavy metals in the host kidney, liver, muscle, blood and cestodes was studied. The concentration of lead in the cestodes was on average 458, 5 and 4-fold higher in the cestodes than in the muscle, liver and kidney of the host, respectively. Parasitised sheep accumulated significantly less lead in their tissues than their uninfected conspecifics (ANOVA test, P < or = 0.05). Also the differences between host's tissues and tapeworms were found to be significant (ANOVA test, P < or = 0.05). Thus, this study reveals that lead accumulation also occurs in cestodes parasitizing mammals. The host-parasite-system sheep-Moniezia expansa appears to be a useful and promising bioindication system especially in farming (rural, agricultural) and the natural ecosystem.

Competition for minerals (Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu) and Cd between sheep tapeworm (Moniezia expansa) and its definitive host sheep (Ovis aries)

“…Sheep with Moniezia expansa infection always exhibited higher cadmium concentrations in the tissues (with the exception of blood) than their uninfected conspecifics. It appears that Moniezia expansa do not reduce cadmium accumulation in host tissues as was determined with lead accumulation (Jankovská et al 2010a). The highest mean cadmium concentrations were found in the liver of sheep infected with M. expansa (24.5 ± 11.5 mg.kg -1 dry weight).…”

“…Only Fe and Zn concentrations were higher in sheep tissues (muscle, kidney, liver) than in sheep tapeworms. This is in contrast to lead accumulation wherein sheep tapeworms ........ accumulated a much higher quantity of lead than did sheep tissues (Jankovská et al, 2010a) and similarly in fish intestinal helminth (Acanthocephalus lucii) was lead accumulation always higher than in the host (Perca fluviatilis) tissues (Jankovská et al, 2011;Turčeková et al, 2002). Informations regarding the impact of parasites on the metal uptake by their hosts are contradictory.…”

Parasite responses to pollution: what we know and where we go in ‘Environmental Parasitology’

“… Vulpes vulpes decrease Pb field [ 178 ] terrestrial Mesocestoides spp. Vulpes vulpes increase Cu, Mn field [ 178 ] terrestrial Moniezia expansa Ovis aries decrease Pb experimental [ 179 ] terrestrial Hymenolepis diminuta Rattus norvegicus decrease Cd, Zn experimental [ 202 ] terrestrial Unidentified cestodes Sterna paradisaea decrease Bi field [ 203 ] Nematoda terrestrial Toxascaris leonina Vulpes vulpes decrease Pb field [ 178 ] limnetic Raphidascaris acus Oncorhynchus mykiss decrease Se experimental [ 204 ] estuarine Eustrongylides sp. Fundulus heteroclitus decrease Hg field [ 205 ] Digenea limnetic Different digeneans Littorina littorea decrease Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb field [ 206 ] Isopoda estuarine Probopyrus pandalicola Palaemonetes pugio decrease Hg field [ 205 ...…”

Is the tapeworm able to affect tissue Pb-concentrations in white rat?

“…A detailed comparison of our results to those of previous works is given in Table 6. Conversely, Jankovska et al (2010a), who conducted short-term experimental oral exposure in sheep, recorded much more pronounced (20-500-fold) differences between BCFs of exposed animals and those of unexposed animals. In our sub-acute study, the coefficients between BCFs in high-and low-exposed animals ranged from 6 (for liver) to 60 (for muscle).…”