Heavy Metals Assessment in the Medjerda River Basin (Northeastern Algeria): A Preliminary Water Analysis and Toad Skin Biopsy

AbstractOur study attempted to monitor the quality of water in Medjarda basin (Northeastern Algeria) and to provide baseline information of heavy metals in the water as well as in a potential amphibian biosentinel, the spiny toad, Bufo spinosus. We measured pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand of water and levels of heavy metals in toad skin using an atomic absorption flame spectrophotometer. Lead (Pb) concentration in water and in toad skin at all sites exceeded respectively 60 and 96 times the standard reference values. The heavy metal concentrations, in descending order, in water and in male toad skin were as follows: Pb > Fe > Cu > Zn and Fe > Pb > Zn > Cu respectively. This study highlights the ecological status of the surrounding areas upstream of the Medjarda basin as being a point source of heavy metal pollution. It is further stated that a non-invasive skin removal is an ethically sound technique to evaluate heavy metal accumulation in aquatic animals like toad, without euthanizing the specimens and making any loss to biodiversity of the species

Soil Remediation Assessment by Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species in Lizard Testis: An Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Approach

Recent developments in applied research have led to implement novel operative protocols for life-based restoration of contaminated soils, including new monitoring approach. Here, we report the measurements of reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in lizard testis performed in the framework of the project Life Ecoremed. The ROS levels detected by electron spın resonance (ESR) spectroscopy using the spin-trapping technique were analyzed and validated using measurements of total soluble antioxidant capacity and the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase enzymatic activity, which detect the gonadal antioxidant defense and DNA repair, respectively. The investigations on soil biosentinel Podarcis sicula reproductive health gave significant evidence that the ROS level in the testis well correlates with alteration of the antioxidant capacity. In specimens coming from polluted sites, before remediation, a significant increase of ROS content was detected respect to that found in specimens from an unpolluted site. Thereafter, an evident decrease of the ROS levels, corresponding to high levels of total soluble antioxidant capacity and low repair of DNA integrity, has been detected after remediation. Thus, the data relative to all the polluted sites examined support the testis of Podarcis sicula as an elective tissue for an innovative and reliable screening method, based on ESR analysis of ROS, in the soil remediation assessment

Fry Survival Rate as a Predictive Marker of Optimal Production of Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Valenciennes 1844): A Biostatistical Study in Deroua Fish Farm, Morocco

Several indicators show that the world population is rapidly increasing with prospects of reaching close to 10 billion people in 2050. Optimal production of fish is a tentative goal to ensure human feeding and resources sustainability. The present study was performed on eggs of the silver carp, collected during the breeding season of consecutive years with different environmental temperature profiles at the Deroua Fisheries Station to evaluate the seasonal and inter-seasonal changes of eggs quality in order to promote a predictive marker for optimal production of silver carp. The viability of the obtained eggs was detected using ANOVA followed by the Tukey test to analyze fertilization rate, embryos survival rate, and fry survival rate. Data analysis showed no significant difference in the fertilization and survival rate of the embryos during the two breeding seasons, and therefore these can not be used as an adequate criterion to predict the viability of the fry of silver carp. Although the survival rate of the fry did not change during the first season, it changed significantly during the second when there was an increase in the environmental temperature. This factor could be responsible for the disturbance of the females’ oogenesis and consequently the degradation of the eggs’ quality. The results showed that the fry survival rate could be used as a parameter to predict the yield of silver carp production rather than the success of fertilization and the survival of embryos. This paper discusses the importance and scope of this approach

Monitoring temporal changes in coastal mangroves to understand the impacts of climate change : Red Sea, Egypt

Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Dr Samira R Mansour for help in reviewing the paper. The present paper is not funded from any agency or organization, all work completed in the Suez Canal University, Ismailia Egypt. Open access funding provided by The Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) in cooperation with The Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB). Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Biological responses of white sea bream (Diplodus sargus, Linnaeus 1758) and sardine (Sardine pilchardus, Walbaum 1792) exposed to heavy metal contaminated water

The aim of the present work was to assess, by rapid approach, the detoxification capacity and the genotoxicity caused by exposure of some marine fish to polluted waters. The fish species selected for the study: white sea bream (Diplodus sargus, Linnaeus 1758) and sardine (Sardine pilchardus, Walbaum 1792) were collected from different sites of Alexandria, El-Max bay and Bahary, in Egypt. Results of heavy metals analysis in sediment were: Al>Fe>Cr>Pb>Hg>Cd. Concerning detoxification analysis, fish collected from El-Max bay encounter the highest liver enzyme activity of Glutathione S-Transferase. Also, genotoxicity was evaluated in liver, gills and muscle of fishes collected and the results indicated that fish collected from El-Max bay has the highest levels of comets (DNA damage) when compared to the other sites selected as reference. It can be concluded from our results that the different tissues examined have alteration of level of detossification and comets as result of different degree of oxidative pollution insult. These biological responses may be considered for rapid extimation of food oxidative damage as well as for environmental quality

Reproductive expression dynamics and comparative toxicological perspective of beta estrogen receptor gene in the male wall lizard, Podarcis sicula Rafinesque, 1810 (Chordata: Reptilia)

Over the last few decades, due to its relevant function in male reproduction assessment, important molecular achievements have been made in the molecular characterization of estrogen receptor genes in various species. Our work focuses on a male seasonal breeder, the bioindicator Podarcis sicula, because of its peculiar gonadal anatomy, similar to that of humans. Based on the cloned lizard's gene sequence fragment of estrogen receptor beta, esr2 (GenBank JN705543.1), we found DNA binding domain identity of 99% as well as a homologous sequence with humans. Furthermore, in order to better illustrate how this gene is regulated in the lizard's reproductive system organs, we investigated the transcriptional activity of esr2 in brain and testis tissues during mating and winter stasis phases of the reproductive cycle. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses performed on male gonadal tissues demonstrate a significant increase in esr2 expression during mating compared to the winter stasis period, while in the brain, esr2 shows the opposite trend. Next, we provide morphological evidence of the detrimental effect on spermatogenesis of a pure anti-estrogen treatment (ICI 182,780) and the corresponding effect on esr2 expression in lizard specimens during the mating period which, upon treatment, was found to be no different from the expression levels in winter stasis both in the brain and in the testis. In this study, we explore the potential use of Podarcis sicula as a model for human testis development and maturation, as well as esr2 expression for toxicological screening in one-testis gonadectomy

Laser vs. thermal treatments of green pigment PG36: coincidence and toxicity of processes

Comparative laser and thermal treatments were carried out on PG36, a green phthalocyanine-based pigment, permitted in European countries where legislation on tattoo composition was issued. Prior to the treatments, PG36 was characterized by SEM imaging, EDX, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopies, revealing an excess of Si and C and O as compared to the pure halogenated Cu-phthalocyanine. Laser treatments were carried out with a Nd:YAG device applied to H2O and propan-2-ol dispersions. Pyrolysis and calcinations were carried out in air or under N2 flow. The outcome of the different procedures was analyzed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, GC–mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction of the solid residues, SEM microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The comparative analysis indicated the production of different fragment compounds depending on the treatment, (pyrolysis or laser), and, to some extent, to the solvent of the dispersion, with pyrolysis generating a larger number of hazardous compounds. Hydrocarbons and cyclic siloxanes present as additives in PG36 were stable or degraded depending on the treatment. The morphology of the products is also treatment-dependent with nanoparticles < 20 nm and fibers being produced upon laser treatments only. Based on the experimental findings, the equivalence of laser and thermal treatments is evaluated

Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Cardiovascular Protection in Chronic Kidney Disease

The high mortality related to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not only due to the disease itself; in fact, CKD also represents an important risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Among the functional foods that seems to have cardioprotective action, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) plays a pivotal health-promoting role. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible cardioprotective effects of an EVOO containing a very high content (>900 ppm) of minor phenolic compounds (MPCs). The selected EVOO was analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS to establish the MPC content. The Olea extract obtained from the selected EVOO was tested against the RAW 264.7 cell line in order to investigate its anti-inflammatory activity. We enrolled 40 CKD patients under conservative therapy for in vivo clinical testing. All CKD patients consumed 40 mL/day of raw EVOO for 9 weeks (T1). At baseline (T0) and at T1, we monitored the patients' blood and urinary parameters. The patients' body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis and the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) using ultrasound imaging. At T1, we observed a decrease in inflammatory parameters, CIMT, and oxidative stress biomarkers. We also noticed improvements in lipid and purine metabolism, atherogenic indices, and body composition. Thus, this study highlighted the cardioprotective action of EVOO in nephropathic patients

Fisheries and biodiversity along Mediterranean Sea: Italian and Egyptian coast overview

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