Heavy metals in the muscle and hepatopancreas of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in campania (italy)

The aim of this study was to carry out a quali-quantitative analysis of the presence of non-essential and essential trace elements in freshwater crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) edible tissues to establish the healthiness of this product and to evaluate the pollution status of the sampling sites included in the present study. P. clarkii is one of the most common species of freshwater crustaceans in Italy, regularly consumed by local people. Moreover, the crayfish, due to its trophic position and diet, can be considered as an excellent bioindicator of the health status of the ecosystem. We collected sixty crayfish samples from two different sites in Campania (Italy): Villa Literno and Sessa Aurunca. Concentrations of trace elements were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Our data showed low concentrations of Cd, Hg and Pb, with values below the European Commission MRL (Commission Regulation (EC) 1881/2006). We suggest that data obtained from this study showed that crayfish collected from Villa Literno and Sessa Aurunca were safe for human consumption. Furthermore, the results of this research indicated mild contamination of heavy metals of the sampling sites, indicating a good health status of the area’s aquatic ecosystem

Multidisciplinary studies on a sick-leader syndrome-associated mass stranding of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) along the Adriatic coast of Italy

Mass strandings of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are rare in the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, in 2014 a pod of 7 specimens stranded alive along the Italian coast of the Central Adriatic Sea: 3 individuals died on the beach after a few hours due to internal damages induced by prolonged recumbency; the remaining 4 whales were refloated after great efforts. All the dead animals were genetically related females; one was pregnant. All the animals were infected by dolphin morbillivirus (DMV) and the pregnant whale was also affected by a severe nephropathy due to a large kidney stone. Other analyses ruled out other possible relevant factors related to weather conditions or human activities. The results of multidisciplinary post-mortem analyses revealed that the 7 sperm whales entered the Adriatic Sea encountering adverse weather conditions and then kept heading northward following the pregnant but sick leader of the pod, thereby reaching the stranding site. DMV infection most likely played a crucial role in impairing the health condition and orientation abilities of the whales. They did not steer back towards deeper waters, but eventually stranded along the Central Adriatic Sea coastline, a real trap for sperm whales

INTEGRATION OF A BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) MOTHER AND CALF DYAD TO A SOCIAL GROUP OF CETACEANS

The aims of this research were to study the integration of a mother and her six month old calf to the community of cetaceans hosted at Oltremare Park. The present social group consist a juvenile female Risso\u2019s dolphin and 6 bottlenose dolphins (one adult male, 4 adult females and the male calf). Observations were performed between 17th November 2010 and 27th February 2011 for a total amount of 70 hours. Data were sampled utilizing Focal Animal Sampling and recorded using the Continuous Recording. The integration process consisted of four different phases to minimize potential aggression toward the calf. Many social interactions were observed with a diversity of social displays. Social interactions were studied by quantitative analysis of the affiliative, agonistic and sexual interactions between the dyad and the rest of the group. Affiliative interactions within the dyad remained higher for all the period, but were also noticed between calf and another adult female. Agonistic interactions within the dyad and toward another adult female occurred to establish control of the calf. Sexual interactions were registered since the second to fourth phase between the calf and his mother, but also between the calf and another adult female. The integration between the dyad and the dominant male occurred without agonistic display between the animals

Preliminary report on thyroid hormone levels in tissues of stranded cetaceans

Exposure to environmental pollutants is one of most important risks for marine ecosystem and species. Most important contaminants are those which persist for long time in the environment and which can concentrate in animal and lead to subtle but important effects, such as endocrine disruption. Knowing the actual levels of pollutant burden and pathophysiological consequences can better the assessment of risk for ecosystems, endangered populations and human health. In monitoring activities focusing on endangered species like sea mammals and turtles, stranded dead animals are often used, as they are easier to collect with respect to live, free ranging animals. Sampling from these individuals only rarely allows the collection of blood samples or the efficient evaluation of markers of effect, particularly those concerning thyroid activity. The present study aims at the evaluation of the applicability of a thyroid hormone extraction method developed for fish tissues to cetacean tissues, in order to create a new tool for the evaluation of endocrine disruption effects of pollutants in highly protected species and/or endangered local populations. Samples from stranded animals collected along Italian Northern Adriatic Sea and Israeli Mediterranean coasts were used. The applied extraction method proved to be efficient for T3 only, which was always above the limit of detection (LOD), while T4 levels were close to or below LOD. This may be expected because data concerning thyroid hormones concentration in animals' fish tissues indicate about low levels of thyroxine T4 in fish tissues and detectable levels of triiodothyrosine T3. The fact that 14 of 73 samples presented T4 concentrations slightly higher than LOD seems to confirm this hypothesis and the applicability of the method to these types of tissues. Mean values of T3 were higher in kidney of many species, followed by muscle and liver. This makes it possible to consider kidney as marker tissue for T3 quantification. These findings are somewhat unexpected, as metabolism and degradation of thyroid hormones occurs in liver, which could have been considered a storage tissue, presenting highest hormone concentrations. Instead, kidney and muscle, which are usually among the less degraded tissues in dead stranded animals, seems to be the best markers of thyroid functioning. To confirm this hypothesis, additional samples need to be analyzed. No statistical difference was observed between species and tissue considered; however a sampling bias should be considered, linked to the large differences in species and tissues numbers. No other information is available on thyroid hormones tissue concentration in cetaceans or other mammals. Scarce data are available concerning blood levels. To our knowledge, the present data are to be considered as the first report concerning thyroid hormone levels in tissues of cetaceans. Further development of an applied analytical method and its application to a larger number of samples, possibly including tissues from healthy, controlled animals (i.e. those housed in..

Halogenated flame retardants in stranded sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) from the Mediterranean Sea

In recent years, decline of marine mammals' populations and increased frequency of strandings have arised the interest on the role that pollution may have in these events. The present work aimed at quantifying levels of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and dechloranes (DECs) in tissues of 3 adult females and one foetus of sperm whales stranded in the Southern Adriatic Sea coasts (Italy). Results proved the presence of different flame retardants (FRs) in tissues of sperm whales, including various polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) congeners (47, 99, 100, 154, entering the composition of PentaBDE mixture), hexabromocyclodecanes (HBCDs), Dec 602 and methoxylated polibrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-BDEs). In blubber, a target tissue for contaminant accumulation, ΣPBDEs reached values of 160, 158 and 183 ng/g lw, α-HBCD of 5.75 ng/g lw, Dec 602 of 1632 ng/g lw and MeO-BDEs of 563 ng/g lw. The availability of foetal tissues allowed evaluating the potential maternal transfer on many of these compounds, and to discuss the potential adverse effects on foetal health. To the best of our knowledge, obtained data are the first reporting placental transfer of FRs in sperm whales. PBDE levels detected in foetus suggested a potentially long-term exposure to BFRs, which could cause severe damages to the developing organism, likely at the cerebral, endocrine and immunologic levels. Dec 602, which was detected at the highest concentrations among all FRs considered, could potentially cause dysfunctional effects on the immune system of adult females