Potential effects of blood contaminants on immune responses in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina)

Poster (2011, August 23)

The harbor seal and the harbor porpoise from the North Sea: review of their ecotoxicological status based on stranded and free-ranging individuals and potential threaths to the population

Conference (2011, May)

The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) from the North Sea have experienced major fluctuations these last decades due to habitat loss, prey fluctuation and pollution ... [more ▼]

The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) from the North Sea have experienced major fluctuations these last decades due to habitat loss, prey fluctuation and pollution of the marine environment. Recently, development of monitoring programs and non-invasive sampling techniques, including seal catches in Germany allowed blood sampling together with measurements of blubber thickness, body mass, sex and body length. This approach is complementary to the study of stranded and by-caught individuals sampled during necropsies. Essential (Se, Zn, Cu, Fe) and non-essential elements (T-Hg, MeHg, Cd, Pb), perfluorinated organochemicals (PFCs) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in blubber and in blood (for selected compounds) of stranded, by-caught and free-ranging individuals from Belgian and German coasts. In contrast to Cd and Pb, hepatic T-Hg can reach concentrations as high as 2.1 μg.g-1 dry weight but depended on several factors including position in the trophic chain (inferred from δ13C and δ15N values), age group and the body mass. This level has been shown to generate in vitro toxicity on harbor seal lymphocytes. Organic compound analysis (PFCs, PCBs, PBDEs) revealed widespread dispersion of contaminants in the marine environment with higher concentrations in seals compared to porpoises in agreement with the higher trophic position of the harbor seal. However, metabolization of these compounds differed between the two species, as revealed by the higher contribution of the persistent BDE-47 and lower chlorinated and non-persistent congeners (e.g. CB 52, CB95) in tissues of harbor porpoises. T-Hg, PFCs, PCBs and PBDEs were detected in calves confirming maternal transfer to offspring. These pollutants are strongly suspected to affect the immune and endocrine systems as well as vitamin A metabolism and this raises concern about exposure-related health effects, especially in younger individuals. [less ▲]

Evaluation of the ecotoxicological effects of POPs and heavy metals, reflecting pathological, microbiological and genetic analyses, on the Mekong River population of Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris)

Report (2011)

For this report, samples of Irrawaddy River dolphins found dead along the Mekong River between 2006 and 2010 were analysed in different laboratories in Europe, Canada and Cambodia. The aim of the ... [more ▼]

For this report, samples of Irrawaddy River dolphins found dead along the Mekong River between 2006 and 2010 were analysed in different laboratories in Europe, Canada and Cambodia. The aim of the investigation was to gain additional knowledge on histological and toxicological findings as well as on the genetic variation of the Mekong population. The report summarizes those results in relation to previous investigations conducted in Cambodia and the United States of America. [less ▲]

Methylmercury and selenium in vitro effects on harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) lymphocytes : a multidisciplinary approach

Poster (2010, May 26)

Methylmercury (MeHg) bioaccumulates along the food web, leading to the highest levels in tissues of predatory species. It constitutes the predominant form present in the blood of marine mammals. The blood ... [more ▼]

Methylmercury (MeHg) bioaccumulates along the food web, leading to the highest levels in tissues of predatory species. It constitutes the predominant form present in the blood of marine mammals. The blood cells, including the immune cells, are therefore exposed to the toxic properties of that chemical. Nevertheless, selenium (Se) is an essential element absorbed concomitantly to MeHg which seems to modulate this toxicity. The goal of this study is to evaluate the immunotoxicity of MeHg on the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) T lymphocytes, highly important in the adaptive immune response, and to investigate the modulating effect of Se on that toxicity. In parallel, the concentrations of MeHg, total mercury (T-Hg) and Se are determined in free-ranging harbour seal blood in order to follow their contamination levels. The T lymphocytes were isolated from the whole blood, exposed to various MeHg and Se concentrations and the exposure effects were estimated by functional tests including the evaluation of viability, proliferation, metabolic activity, DNA and protein synthesis, and by morphological analysis by transmission electron microscopy. The mean T-Hg concentration was 172 ± 143 µg/l of whole blood. The T lymphocytes cultures in vitro displayed a decreasing number of viable cells with increasing concentrations of MeHg, and numerous ultrastructural defects. The cells exposed to MeHg notably displayed distortion of the plasmic membrane, nucleus fragmentations, chromatin compaction, swelling mitochondrias and cytoplasmic vacuolisations. Those results highlighted various immunotoxic effects of MeHg, both at the functional and ultrastructural levels. The antagonistic role of Se on MeHg immunotoxicity is discussed. [less ▲]

Study of methylmercury and selenium effects on harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) T lymphocytes in vitro

Poster (2009, November 27)

Methylmercury in vitro exposure of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) lymphocytes: A multidisciplinary approach

Conference (2009, June 08)

Etude de l’effet du méthylmercure et du sélénium sur les lymphocytes de phoque commun (Phoca vitulina) par analyses fonctionnelles, morphologiques et protéomiques

Poster (2008, December 12)

Harbour porpoise thyroids: Histological investigations and potential interactions with environmental factors

in Journal of Wildlife Diseases (2008), 44

The thyroid plays an important role in development and is of primary importance in metabolism and heat loss for cetaceans, including the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Several studies have ... [more ▼]

The thyroid plays an important role in development and is of primary importance in metabolism and heat loss for cetaceans, including the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Several studies have demonstrated that environmental contaminants can alter various aspects of thyroid function in mammals and may contribute to various histologic changes. The present study completes the data set of a 2006 study by Das et al., by performing histological and immunohistologic investigations on thyroids of 36 harbor porpoises from Belgian and United Kingdom waters. The number and mean diameter of follicles (µm) and the relative proportion of follicular, connective, and vascular tissue (%) were quantified in the thyroid gland of each individual. Interfollicular fibrosis has been observed in these thyroid glands, and the collective findings support the hypothesis of an endocrine disruption of thyroid function through organochlorinated compounds. Our study aimed also to reveal potential relationships between thyroid morphometric data and metal levels (Cd, Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, and Hg) using multivariate statistical analysis. The multiple regressions revealed statistically significant relationships between trace elements (cadmium, selenium, and copper) and thyroid fibrosis. The largely negative relationships are interesting findings but do not support the hypothesis that these elements have an adverse effect on thyroid morphometry. Further research is needed to understand the nature of any relationship between organochlorine and trace element exposure and thyroid gland morphology and function in harbor porpoises. [less ▲]

Exposition et effets du méthylmercure chez le phoque commun (Phoca vitulina)

Speech (2008)

Mercury immune toxicity in harbour seals: Links to in vitro toxicity

in Environmental Health : A Global Access Science Source (2008), 7

Background Mercury is known to bioaccumulate and to magnify in marine mammals, which is a cause of great concern in terms of their general health. In particular, the immune system is known to be ... [more ▼]

Background Mercury is known to bioaccumulate and to magnify in marine mammals, which is a cause of great concern in terms of their general health. In particular, the immune system is known to be susceptible to long-term mercury exposure. The aims of the present study were (1) to determine the mercury level in the blood of free-ranging harbour seals from the North Sea and (2) to examine the link between methylmercury in vitro exposure and immune functions using seal and human mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (T-lymphocytes). Methods Total mercury was analysed in the blood of 22 harbour seals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from seals (n = 11) and from humans (n = 9). Stimulated lymphocytes of both species were exposed to functional tests (proliferation, metabolic activity, radioactive precursor incorporation) under increasing doses of methylmercury (0.1 to 10 µM). The expression of cytokines (IL-2; IL-4 and TGF-beta was investigated in seal lymphocytes by RT-PCR and by real time quantitative PCR (n = 5) at methylmercury concentrations of 0.2 and 1 µM. Finally, proteomics analysis was attempted on human lymphocytes (cytoplasmic fraction) in order to identify biochemical pathways of toxicity at concentration of 1 µM (n = 3). Results The results showed that the number of seal lymphocytes, viability, metabolic activity, DNA and RNA synthesis were reduced in vitro, suggesting deleterious effects of methylmercury concentrations naturally encountered in free-ranging seals. Similar results were found for human lymphocytes. Functional tests showed that a 1 µM concentration was the critical concentration above which lymphocyte activity, proliferation and survival were compromised. The expression of IL-2 and TGF-beta mRNA was weaker in exposed seal lymphocytes compared to control cells (0.2 and 1 µM). Proteomics showed some variation in the protein expression profile (e.g. vimentin). [less ▲]