Concurrent exposure of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to multiple algal toxins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA

Sentinel species such as bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) can be impacted by large-scale mortality events due to exposure to marine algal toxins. In the Sarasota Bay region (Gulf of Mexico, Florida, USA), the bottlenose dolphin population is frequently exposed to harmful algal blooms (HABs) of Karenia brevis and the neurotoxic brevetoxins (PbTx; BTX) produced by this dinoflagellate. Live dolphins sampled during capture-release health assessments performed in this region tested positive for two HAB toxins; brevetoxin and domoic acid (DA). Over a ten-year study period (2000–2009) we have determined that bottlenose dolphins are exposed to brevetoxin and/or DA on a nearly annual basis (i.e., DA: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009; brevetoxin: 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009) with 36% of all animals testing positive for brevetoxin (n = 118) and 53% positive for DA (n = 83) with several individuals (14%) testing positive for both neurotoxins in at least one tissue/fluid. To date there have been no previously published reports of DA in southwestern Florida marine mammals, however the May 2008 health assessment coincided with a Pseudo-nitzschia pseudodelicatissima bloom that was the likely source of DA observed in seawater and live dolphin samples. Concurrently, both DA and brevetoxin were observed in common prey fish. Although no Pseudo-nitzschia bloom was identified the following year, DA was identified in seawater, fish, sediment, snails, and dolphins. DA concentrations in feces were positively correlated with hematologic parameters including an increase in total white blood cell (p = 0.001) and eosinophil (p<0.001) counts. Our findings demonstrate that dolphins within Sarasota Bay are commonly exposed to two algal toxins, and provide the impetus to further explore the potential long-term impacts on bottlenose dolphin health.

Effect of organophosphate, diazinon on some immunophysiological, haematological and histological variable of Rutilus frisii kutum (Kamensky,1901)

The acute toxicity and effects of diazinon on some haematological parameters of kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum, Kamensky, 1901) weighing 613.33 g±157.06 g were studied under static water quality conditions at 15°C ± 2ºC in winter and spring 2009. The effective physical and chemical parameters of water were pH= 7-8.2, dh= 300mg/L (caco3), DO= 7 ppm and T= 15°C±2ºC. The first test was primarily to determine the effects of acute toxicity (LC5096 h) of the agricultural toxicant diazinon (emulsion 60%) on kutum male brood stocks. For this purpose, 4 treatments were used to test toxicity; each treatment was repeated in 3 tanks with 9 fish per treatment and with 180 litres water capacity. After obtaining the final results, the information was analysed statistically with Probit version 1.5 (USEPA, 1985), and we determined the LC10, LC50 and LC90 values at 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours and 96 hours; the maximum allowable concentration value (LC5096 h divided by 10) (TRC, 1984); and the degree of toxicity. The second stage of testing consists of four treatments: LC0= 0 as experimental treatment, treatment A with a concentration of LC1= 0.107 mg/L, treatment B with concentration of LC5= 0.157 mg/L, treatment C with concentration of MAC value= 0.04 mg/L. Male brood stocks of kutum were treated with these concentrations for 45 days. Experiments were carried out under static conditions based on the standard TRC, 1984 method over 45 days. Our results show that long-term exposure to diazinon causes a decrease in the erythrocyte count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), leucocyte count (WBC), lymphocyte, testosterone, iron (Fe), sodium (Na), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and cholinesterase (CHeS). In addition, diazinon also causes an increase in prolymphocyte, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and adrenaline (P<0.05). There are no significant effects on monocyte, eosinophil, magnesium (Mg), chloride (Cl), glucose (BS), urea (BUN), uric acid (U.A), triglyceride (TG), calcium (Ca), albumin (Alb), total protein (TP), cortisol, noradrenaline and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in kutum male brood stocks (P>0.05). Pathology results showed toxin diazinon no effect on average weight and fish body length, the average weight of heart, brain, spleen, liver, kidney and liver index but caueses decrease of gonad weigth and gonad index and also, cause complications of tissue necrosis, vascular congestion, inflammation in the liver, a sharp reduction in the number of glomeruli, necrosis, vascular congestion and haemorage in the kidney, capsule thickening and fibrosis, atrophy, vascular congestion, macrophages release increased, increasing sediment Hemosiderine and thickening of artery walls in the spleen, atrophy, fibrosis and necrosis in testis , vascular congestion, increased distance between the myocardium and fibrous string in heart and neuronal loss, vascular congestion and edema in the brain of kutum male brood stocks.