Mink as a sentinel species in environmental health

Basu, Niladri; Scheuhammer, Anton M.; Bursian, Steven J.; Elliott, John E.; Rouvinen‐Watt, Kirsti; Chan, Hing Man

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2006.04.005

Cited by 166 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 105 publications

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“…Mink are important environmental sentinels for toxic chemicals (Basu et al, 2007) and are also used as a surrogate species for sea otters (Enhydra lutris) that live in the near-shore marine environment and are at risk for exposure to petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in the environment. An unexpected finding was that the development of adrenal hypertrophy in fuel oil-exposed mink was not associated with increases in either serum or fecal concentrations of glucocorticoids (Schwartz et al, 2004;Mohr et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fuel Oil–induced Adrenal Hypertrophy in Ranch Mink (Mustela Vison): Effects of Sex, Fuel Oil Weathering, and Response to Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Mohr

Lasley

Bursian

2010

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:Environmental contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons from anthropogenic sources can be a cause of stress for free-ranging wildlife. The response of wildlife to chemical contaminants requires that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis be precisely regulated to allow for proper glucocorticoid-mediated adaptive responses. Chronic oral exposure to low concentrations of bunker C fuel oil causes the development of adrenal hypertrophy in male ranch mink (Mustela vison) without increasing serum or fecal glucocorticoid concentrations. This hypertrophy is an adaptive response to fuel oil-induced adrenal insufficiency. To determine if the same phenomenon occurs in female mink or male mink exposed to artificially weathered fuel oil, female mink were fed 0 ppm (mineral oil) or 420 ppm fuel oil and male mink were exposed to 0 ppm, 420 ppm fuel oil, or 480 ppm artificially weathered fuel oil in the diet for 60-62 days. At the end of the exposure, serum glucocorticoid concentrations were assayed along with body and organ weight measurements. Fecal glucocorticoid concentrations were assayed at time points throughout the exposure. Male mink fed fuel oil or weathered fuel oil and female mink fed fuel oil had adrenal enlargement without any significant increases in the serum or fecal concentration of glucocorticoids, which is consistent with fuel oil-induced adrenal insufficiency. To address the physiological consequences of adrenal insufficiency, fuel oil-exposed male mink were administered an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. Fuel oil-exposed animals had a smaller incremental increase in serum glucocorticoid concentration after ACTH challenge compared to control animals. Our findings provide further evidence that the HPA axis of fuel oilexposed animals is compromised and, therefore, not able to respond appropriately to the diverse stressors found in the environment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fuel Oil–induced Adrenal Hypertrophy in Ranch Mink (Mustela Vison): Effects of Sex, Fuel Oil Weathering, and Response to Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Mohr

Lasley

Bursian

2010

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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“…This last initiative permits to identify susceptible species to environmental stressors such as HM. Basu et al suggested that sentinel species should have: wide geographical distribution, high abundance, capacity to bioaccumulate HM, easy capture and sampling, low mobility and well known biology [52]. In terrestrial environments, small mammals are commonly used because of their similar physiological systems to humans.…”

Section: Heavy Metal Effects On Genetic Diversity Of Exposed Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Pollution as a Biodiversity Threat

Tovar-Sánchez¹,

Hernández-Plata²,

Santoyo-Martínez³

et al. 2018

Heavy Metals

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Heavy metals exert their toxic effects through different mechanisms. Lately, increasing attention has been focused on understanding the long-term ecological effects of chronically exposed populations and communities and their consequences to the ecosystem. The long-term exposure to heavy metals in the environment represents a threat to wild populations, affecting communities and putting ecosystem integrity at risk. Therefore, this type of exposure represents a threat to biodiversity. In the field, metal exposure is generally characterized by low doses and chronic exposures. This type of exposure exerts alterations across levels of biological organization. Distribution and abundance of populations, the community structure and the ecosystem dynamics may be altered. This chapter will focus on how chronically metal exposures in the field affect negatively populations and communities becoming a threat to biodiversity. Also, attention is put on the tools that enable to characterize and analyze the detrimental effects of heavy metal exposure on wild populations. Hence, the use and development of biomarkers in ecotoxicology will be discussed.

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“…As top level piscivorous predators, osprey (Pandion haliaetus), otter (Lutra sp.) and mink are generally considered to be representative barometers of aquatic/semi-aquatic ecosystem health [10,[64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71]. Interestingly, the use of mink and otter as sentinels/bio-indicators or related sample types, as both pertain to factors such as contaminant body burden, have been called into question [72,73].…”

Section: Case Study 1: Chronic Exposure Of River Otters To Nsaids In mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Basu et al [10] have outlined characteristics that define a sentinel species, including high trophic status, restricted home range, widespread distribution and ability to bio-accumulate pollutants. A focus on such species makes it possible to obtain a snapshot of trophic and ecosystem health which may reveal chronic and acute exposure patterns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Merging Wildlife and Environmental Monitoring Approaches with Forensic Principles: Application of Unconventional and Non-Invasive Sampling in Eco- Pharmacovigilance

Richards¹

2014

J Forensic Res

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Pharmaceutical residues in the environment have the potential to harm wildlife. A population's fragility or an animal's secretive nature may preclude capture and the use of invasive/destructive sampling techniques that are typically used in a risk assessment. Conventionally favoured matrices gathered opportunistically from carcasses have a finite lifespan, thereby limiting the detection window. This multidisciplinary paper aims to promote the use of non-invasive approaches and optimize use of even the most degraded carcasses. We highlight a selection of promising alternative, unconventional and underutilized sample types that could be applied in environmental monitoring efforts and wildlife forensic investigations. With a focus on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), now under increasing scrutiny in the freshwater and terrestrial environment, we first illustrate current sampling practices and gaps in knowledge by summarizing exposure of: 1) aquatic organisms to urban effluent discharged into waterways, and, 2) scavenging species to veterinary residues in livestock and other carrion. We then consider the merits and limitations of a range of alternative environmentally robust sample options that offer a broader detection interval for NSAIDs, with emphasis on hair, wool and feathers. The viability of eyes/ocular material, bone matter, fecal matter, injection sites, ingesta/pellets and scavenging/coprophagous insects are also discussed.

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Mink as a sentinel species in environmental health

Cited by 166 publications

References 105 publications

Fuel Oil–induced Adrenal Hypertrophy in Ranch Mink (Mustela Vison): Effects of Sex, Fuel Oil Weathering, and Response to Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Fuel Oil–induced Adrenal Hypertrophy in Ranch Mink (Mustela Vison): Effects of Sex, Fuel Oil Weathering, and Response to Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Heavy Metal Pollution as a Biodiversity Threat

Merging Wildlife and Environmental Monitoring Approaches with Forensic Principles: Application of Unconventional and Non-Invasive Sampling in Eco- Pharmacovigilance

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