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Parasites as heavy metal bioindicators in the shark Carcharhinus dussumieri from the Persian Gulf

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

M. MALEK ,
M. HASELI ,
I. MOBEDI ,
M. R. GANJALI  and
K. MacKENZIE
M. MALEK*
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
M. HASELI
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
I. MOBEDI
Affiliation:
Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
M. R. GANJALI
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
K. MacKENZIE
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences (Zoology), The University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
*
*Corresponding author: School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: mmalek@khayam.ut.ac.ir
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Summary

In this study the lead and cadmium concentrations in the liver, intestine, muscle and gonad of the shark Carcharhinus dussumieri and its parasites, Anthobothrium sp. and Paraorigmatobothrium sp. (Cestoda), were measured and compared. Tissue samples were collected from Iranian coastal waters of the Persian Gulf. After tissue preparation, the cadmium and lead concentrations were analysed using the Inductively Coupled Plasma technique. The results revealed that lead and cadmium concentrations in both parasite species were many times higher than in the host tissues. The results strongly support the view that helminth parasites are extremely sensitive early warning bioindicators, particularly in sensitive environments under threat but where pollution levels are presently low. They may also have a beneficial effect on the health of their hosts by acting as heavy metal filters.

Keywords

Carcharhinus dussumieriAnthobothrium sp.Paraorigmatobothrium sp.Persian Gulfheavy metalsbioindicators
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 134 , Issue 7 , July 2007 , pp. 1053 - 1056
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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