Acanthogyrus sp. (Acanthocephala: Quadrigyridae) infecting nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) in Sampaloc Lake, Laguna : a potential lead (Pb) biosink

Date

4-2014

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Major Course

Major in Zoology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Vachel Gay V. Paller

Committee Member

Ma. Dalisay G. Maligalig Nina M. Cadiz Zita VJ. Albacea

Abstract

Intestinal parasites affect the bioaccumulation of heavy metals by the host tissues. Acanthocephalans are reported to have the highest accumulation capacity among endoparasites infecting fish. In this study, the potential of Acanthogyrus sp. found in the intestine of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) as lead biosink, was investigated. Five hundred and thirty two Nile tilapias were collected and examined for the presence of the Acanthogyrus sp. The liver, intestine and muscle tissues were collected from uninfected and infected fish and were subjected to lead analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The parasites of infected fish were also subjected to heavy metal analysis. In infected fish, the highest level of lead was observed in Acanthogyrus sp. (10.773 ± 6.470 mg/kg wet weight). The hosts' tissues such as liver, kidney and muscle showed significantly lower Pb concentrations than the parasites (X2 = 36.40, p < 0.001). The parasite accumulated Pb several times higher than liver, intestine and muscle with bioaccumulation factors of 101.98, 55.84 and 151.313, respectively. In addition, the parasite has a Pb concentration 988.42 times higher than the water from Sampaloc Lake. Furthermore, the Pb concentrations in the liver, intestine and muscle tissues of infected fish were significantly lower than those of the uninfected fish (p < 0.001). Results also revealed that there was no significant correlation between the condition factor of infected fish and the parasite intensity (p > 0.05). This study provides evidence that the Acanthogyrus sp. has high bioaccumulation capacity and that it can serve as lead sink reducing the metal concentrations in tissues of its fish host (Oreochromis niloticus L.).

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2014 B4 /R47

Document Type

Thesis

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