Cadmium and lead concentrations in Moniliformis moniliformis (Acanthocephala) and Rodentolepis microstoma (Cestoda), and in their definitive hosts, Rattus rattus and Mus domesticus in El Hierro (Canary Archipelago, Spain)

Abstract

Information on parasites of vertebrates living in terrestrial ecosystems as monitoring tools for heavy metal environmental pollution is scarce. The present study evaluates the potential suitability of the models Rattus rattus/Moniliformis moniliformis and Mus domesticus/Rodentolepis microstoma as promising bioindicator systems for cadmium and lead pollutions under natural conditions. The highest level of cadmium was found in one specimen of M. moniliformis (335.2 ng g -1 wet weight) and the average concentration of Cd in the acanthocephalan was significantly higher than values found in R. rattus liver and kidney tissues. The maximum concentration of lead occurred in one specimen of R. microstoma (567.4 ng g -1 wet weight) and the average concentration of Pb in the cestode was significantly higher than values found in M. domesticus liver, kidney and muscle tissues. The present results allow proposing both models as promising biomonitoring systems to evaluate environmental cadmium pollution (mainly R. rattus/M. moniliformis) and lead contamination (especially M. domesticus/R. microstoma) in terrestrial nonurban habitats. © 2011 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.