Tissue distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in the greenlipped mussel perna viridis from Nenasi and Kuala Pontian, East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Previous studies reported that the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis were widely found on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia but not on the east coast of the Peninsula. In this study, surveys and sampling were conducted from Tumpat to Mersing in April 2004, but the mussels were only found at Nenasi and Kuala Pontian in Pahang coastal waters. Therejare, from this study, we confirm that the mussels on the east coast were not as widely found as on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The mussel samples collected were analysed for cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) and the metal concentrations (J.lg/g dry weight) were 1.892.13, 3.84-10.34, 7.95-8.84 and 93.1-119.6 far Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively. These results indicate that Kuala Pontian samples accumulated higher concentrations of Cu (in remaining soft tissue and mantle) and Zn (in remaining soft tissue, mantle and muscle) compared to those in Nenasi while Cd and Pb showed no significant difference (P> 0.05) between the two sample sites. Since there were no observable anthropogenic inputs ar activities at the two sampling sites, the variation of metal concentrations accumulated in the soft tissues could be mostly attributable to the significant difference in size (shell length, and shell width) and salinity of the two sites. The other environmental factars could also cause differences in the metal bioavailabilities in the coastal waters that were reflected in different concentrations accumulated in the different soft tissues of the mussels

Crystalline style and tissue redistribution in Perna viridis as indicators of Cu and Pb bioavailabilities and contamination in coastal waters

The concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the crystalline style (CS) and in the remaining soft tissues (ST) of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis from 10 geographical sites along the coastal waters off peninsular Malaysia were determined. The CS, compared with the remaining ST, accumulated higher levels of Cu in both contaminated and uncontaminated samples, indicating that the style has a higher affinity for the essential Cu to bind with metallothioneins. The similar pattern of Cu accumulation in the different ST of mussels collected from clean and Cu-contaminated sites indicated that the detoxification capacity of the metallothioneins had not been overloaded. For Pb, higher levels of the metal in the CS than in the remaining ST were found only in mussels collected from a contaminated site at Kg. Pasir Puteh. This indicated a tissue redistribution of Pb due to its binding to metallothioneins for Pb detoxification and the potential of the CS as an indicator organ of Pb bioavailability and contamination. For Zn, the above two phenomena were not found since no obvious patterns were observed (lower levels of Zn in the CS than in the remaining ST) in contaminated and uncontaminated samples due to the mechanism of partial regulation. Generally, all the different STs studied (foot, mantle, gonad, CS, gill, muscle, and byssus) are good biomonitoring tissues for Cu and Pb bioavailabilities and contamination. Among these organs, the CS was found to be the best organ for biomonitoring Cu. The present data also suggest the use of the tissue redistribution of Pb in P. viridis as an indicator of Pb bioavailability and contamination in coastal waters

Microsatellite markers uncover cryptic species of Odontotermes (Termitoidae: Termitidae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Termites from the genus Odontotermes are known to contain numerous species complexes that are difficult to tell apart morphologically or with mitochondrial DNA sequences. We developed markers for one such cryptic species complex, that is, Odontotermes srinakarinensis sp. nov. from Maxwell Hill Forest Reserve (Perak, Malaysia), and characterised them using a sample of 41 termite workers from three voucher samples from the same area. We then genotyped 150 termite individuals from 23 voucher samples/colonies of this species complex from several sites in Peninsular Malaysia. We analysed their population by constructing dendograms from the proportion of shared-alleles between individuals and genetic distances between colonies; additionally, we examined the Bayesian clustering pattern of their genotype data. All methods of analysis indicated that there were two distinct clusters within our data set. After the morphologies of specimens from each cluster were reexamined, we were able to separate the two species morphologically and found that a single diagnostic character found on the mandibles of its soldiers could be used to separate the two species quite accurately. The additional species in the clade was identified as Odontotermes denticulatus after it was matched to type specimens at the NHM London and Cambridge Museum of Zoology

Heavy metal contamination and physical barrier are main causal agents for the genetic differentiation of Perna viridis populations in Peninsular Malaysia

A total of 19 polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to analyze the levels of genetic variations for six geographical populations of green-lipped Perna viridis collected from the coastal waters of Peninsular Malaysia. In addition, the total soft tissues of all mussel populations were determined for heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn). FST values revealed that all the six populations of P. viridis in Peninsular Malaysia were categorized as showing 'moderate genetic differentiation' according to the classification of Wright (1978). Cluster analysis revealed that three populations which were located in the western part of the Johor Causeway were clustered differently from the other three populations located in the eastern part. Hierarchical F-statistics and cluster analysis indicated that the Johor Causeway which blocked the free flow of the pelagic larvae swimmers of P. viridis and a distinct effect of heavy metal contamination on the Kg. Pasir Puteh population, were the two main causal agents for the genetic differentiation of the P. viridis populations investigated in this study

Distribution of Ni and Zn in the surface sediments collected from drainages and intertidal areas in Selangor

Surface sediments were collected from 11 sampling sites in selected intertidals and drainages of Selangor. The sediment samples were analysed for Ni and Zn. The metal concentrations ranged from 15.1 to 121 µg/g dry weight for Ni and 50.2 to 336 µg/g dry weight for Zn. The highest total (Ni and Zn) concentrations in sediments were found at an industrial site in Serdang. The Ni and Zn ranges resulting from this study were wider and higher than those reported previously in Malaysia. Generally, the 'oxidisable-organic' fraction contributed the largest percentage of metals among the other three anthropogenic-related fractions. This study shows that the non-resistant fraction dominated the total Zn based on sequential extraction technique. Some sites had higher percentage (>50%) of non-resistant fraction of Ni and Zn, indicating anthropogenic sources of these metals. Therefore, it is suggested that continuous monitoring of the study areas be implemented especially at industrial areas in Serdang. Perhaps, the industrial waste must be treated before draining to the waterways

Liver Transplantation in an Adult with Citrullinaemia Type 2

Citrullinaemia is a urea cycle defect that results from a deficiency of the enzyme arginosuccinate synthetase. Type 1 disease is diagnosed in childhood, whereas Type 2 disease is adult onset. We report the outcome of a patient with citrullinemia Type 2 who received a liver transplant at our center and the implications of this diagnosis in liver transplantation

Biomonitoring of heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) concentrations in the west intertidal area of Peninsular Malaysia by using Nerita lineata

Snails, Nerita lineata, were collected from 15 sites along the west intertidal area of Peninsular Malaysia from December 2005 until April 2006. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) were determined in the total soft tissues, operculums, and shells of the snails. Different patterns of heavy metal distributions were found in the different tissues (shell, operculums, and soft tissues) as well as spatial variations of heavy metal concentrations in the snails. This shows that the distribution of metals in the shells and the total soft tissues of N. lineata were not similar which could be due to different rates of metal accumulation, excretion, and sequestration. Since N. lineata is abundant on the rocky shores, below jetties and mangrove trees along the west intertidal area of Peninsular Malaysia and accumulate heavy metals, the snails are therefore potential biomonitors of heavy metal contamination for the west intertidal area of Peninsular Malaysia

Lithium levels in Peninsular Malaysian coastal areas: an assessment based on mangrove snail Nerita lineata and surface sediments

Sampling for the mangrove snails, Nerita lineata, and surface sediments was carried out from nine geographical sites of Peninsular Malaysia in April 2011. The concentrations of Lithium (Li) were determined in the shells, opercula and soft tissues of N. lineata and in the surface sediments by using ICP-MS. The ranges of Li concentrations (µg/g dry weight) were found to be 0.107-0.283 for shells, 0.021-0.177 for opercula and 0.011-0.634 for total soft tissues of N. lineata. For sediments, Li ranges were found to be between 21.84- 146.22 µg/g dry weight). The distribution of Li was found to be: sediment> ST> shell> opercula. The Li sediment data in the present study were comparable with the results of Li contaminated sediments which had been previously reported in the literature and higher than those of continental crust materials and igneous rocks. There was no significant correlation (P>0.05) for the Li levels between the sediments. The snails (shells, opercula and soft tissues) and this indicated that Li is an essential metal for metabolism and thus is being regulated in the body of the snail

Concentrations of Cu, Fe and Pb in Nerita lineata collected from selected sites in peninsular Malaysia and the snail's utility as a biomonitor of Pb

The concentrations of Cu, Fe and Pb were determined in Nerita lineata snails and sediments collected from Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Johore between May 2010 and April 2011. This study showed variations of heavy metal accumulations in shells, opercula and soft tissues. The mean concentrations (ug/g dry weight) of Cu, Fe and Pb were 5.00,29.97 and 50.07 for shells; 5.28, 19.50 and 49.34 for opercula; 14.94,539.25 and 18.83 for soft tissues, respectively. The mean total (pg/ g dry weight) concentrations of Cu, Fe and Pb in the surface sediments were 19.72,25956.14 and 46.99, respectively. Generally the results of this study were comparable with previous reports on the same species. The Pb levels of the snail samples were found to correlate well with the Pb levels in the sediments which confirmed the snail as a good biomonitor for Pb