Abstract

NAJLE, Roberto et al. THE USE OF SERUM PROTEINS AS BIOLOGICAL MARKERS OF CONTAMINATION OF GENTOO Pygoscelis papua AND ADELIE P. adeliae PENGUINS. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2006, vol.22, n.3, pp.107-112. ISSN 0188-4999.

Two common and widely used liquid fuels with hepatotoxic activity, and trimethyltin, a compound with neurotoxic activity which is used in several industrial processes, were tested for their toxicity in two species of Pygoscelis penguins. Gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua were dosed with trimethyltin (TMT)(15 mg/kg) and Adelie penguins P adeliae were dosed with fuel for air (JP1)(0.20 ml/kg) and land transport (Polar Diesel, PD)(0.20 ml/kg). We use the serum proteins as markers of contamination on Gentoo and Adelie penguins. The following hematological parameters were measured: hemoglobin, hematocrit, glucose, total lipids, total proteins and enzymes (aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase). Normal hematological values obtained on all penguins are in agreement with previously published data. All tested birds showed significant toxic changes being seen clinically and by blood tests. No mortality was observed during the experiment. β globulin increased in Gentoo penguins treated with TMT, showing highly significant differences. α 1 and α 2 globulin was fusioned. There was a marked drop in total proteins in Adelie penguins dosed with JP1. β and γ globulin decreased significantly in Adelie penguins exposed to Polar Diesel. This study show that serum proteins and enzymes levels can be used as biological markers of contamination on penguins.

Keywords : biological markers; serum proteins; penguins; Antarctica; Pygoscelis adeliae; Pygoscelis papua.