Assesing relationships between chemical exposure, parasite infection, fish health and fish ecological status: A case study using chub (Leuciscus cephalus) in the Bílina river, Czech Republic

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Authors

WENGER Michael ONDRAČKOVÁ Markéta MACHALA Miroslav NEČA Jiří HYRŠL Pavel VETEŠNÍKOVÁ ŠIMKOVÁ Andrea JURAJDA Pavel VON DER OHE Peter SEGNER Helmut

Year of publication 2009
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Field Animal diseases, veterinary medicine
Keywords multiple stressors; environmental risk assessment; biomarkers; parasites; fish health
Description The present study, investigated the chub (L. cephalus), in the Bílina River (CR), which is impacted by various pollution sources and might pose a risk on the fish. It was examined whether there exists an association between chub and exposure to toxic chemicals and parasites. Toxic pressure was assessed by the toxic unit approach, which gives an integrative estimate of toxic effect concentrations and by measuring the biomarkers cytochrome P4501A and vitellogenin. Parasite pressure was estimated by determining abundance and species composition of parasites. Toxic pressure increased in the downstream direction, while parasite intensity decreased in this direction. Health status of chub did not differ clearly between sites. It appears that neither toxic pressure nor parasite pressure nor does their combination translate into a change of chub health status. This study provides evidence against a presumed causative role of toxicants impairing the fish populations of the Bílina River.
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