The effects of sex, body length, and different habitats on the serum protein electrophoresis of the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris).

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of mammalian inflammatory responses is vast; however, many aspects of the inflammatory response in non-mammalian vertebrates, such as reptiles, remain unclear, including those regarding acute-phase proteins (APPs). Recent studies have focused on the use of serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) to assess inflammatory responses in the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) and other reptiles. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sex, body length, and different habitats on SPE patterns in C latirostris using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). METHODS: A total of 40 animals of both sexes and varying body lengths were collected; of these, 23 were free-living in an industrial complex (site 1), and 17 were captive on a rural property (site 2). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed to fractionate different serum protein constituents. RESULTS: Sex affected protein levels, with females showing higher serum levels of total protein, as well as the 90-, 66-, and 58-kDa proteins compared with males. Similarly, body length affected protein levels, with male adults >1.70 m in length showing the lowest serum levels of 152-, 58-, 54-, and 27-kDa proteins of all other animals. Finally, habitat affected protein levels, with animals at site 1 showing higher serum levels of 152- and 41-kDa proteins compared with those at site 2. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study was the first to evaluate the SPE of C latirostris using SDS-PAGE. Further studies to identify the proteins in each band with more specific and sensitive techniques (eg, mass spectrometry) should be conducted to elucidate the standard of APPs in reptiles better.

Plasma levels of pollutants are much higher in loggerhead turtle populations from the Adriatic Sea than in those from open waters (Eastern Atlantic Ocean).

In this paper we determined the levels of 63 environmental contaminants, including organic (PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and PAHs) and inorganic (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg and Zn) compounds in the blood of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from two comparable populations that inhabit distinct geographic areas: the Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean basin) and the Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic Ocean). All animals were sampled at the end of a period of rehabilitation in centers of wildlife recovery, before being released back into the wild, so they can be considered to be in good health condition. The dual purpose of this paper is to provide reliable data on the current levels of contamination of this species in these geographic areas, and secondly to compare the results of both populations, as it has been reported that marine biota inhabiting the Mediterranean basin is exposed to much higher pollution levels than that which inhabit in other areas of the planet. According to our results it is found that current levels of contamination by organic compounds are considerably higher in Adriatic turtles than in the Atlantic ones (∑PCBs, 28.45 vs. 1.12ng/ml; ∑OCPs, 1.63 vs. 0.19ng/ml; ∑PAHs, 13.39 vs. 4.91ng/ml; p<0.001 in all cases). This is the first time that levels of PAHs are reported in the Adriatic loggerheads. With respect to inorganic contaminants, although the differences were not as great, the Adriatic turtles appear to have higher levels of some of the most toxic elements such as mercury (5.74 vs. 7.59µg/ml, p<0.01). The results of this study confirm that the concentrations are larger in turtles from the Mediterranean, probably related to the high degree of anthropogenic pressure in this basin, and thus they are more likely to suffer adverse effects related to contaminants.

Atividade da colinesterase plasmática como biomarcador de impacto ambiental em tartarugas verdes (Chelonia mydas) no litoral do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco / Plasma cholinesterase activity as environmental impact biomarker for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) on the coast of Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil

Biomarcadores podem ser usados de forma preditiva, permitindo que sejam tomadas ações de controle antes que ocorram danos ambientais irreversíveis com consequências ecológicas severas, no entanto, espécies sentinelas são necessárias para avaliação desses marcadores. As tartarugas marinhas são consideradas espécies sentinelas quando acometidas por fibropapilomas, sendo sinalizadora do desequilíbrio ambiental marinho nas suas áreas de ocorrência. Com o objetivo de propor a determinação da atividade da colinesterase plasmática em tartarugas verdes (Chelonia mydas) como biomarcador, procedeu-se a determinação da atividade enzimática em animais saudáveis e em localidade de baixo impacto antrópico (Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brasil) para servir como referência para comparação com animais capturados em locais de maior impacto antrópico. Ao todo foram analisadas amostras de plasma heparinizado de 35 animais capturados. Todas as amostras analisadas apresentaram alguma atividade enzimática de colinesterase plasmática. Os valores obtidos de colinesterase variaram de 162 a 379 UI/L, com média e desvio padrão de 216,4 ± 51,4 UI/L. Nos estudos de repetibilidade e reprodutibilidade obtiveram-se coeficientes de variação menor que 5% em todas as análises, portanto a metodologia analítica utilizada se mostrou confiável. A longevidade das tartarugas marinhas da espécie C. mydas, o comportamento alimentar, juntamente com o fato de possuirem atividade enzimática detectável podem indicar essa espécie como bioindicadora de exposição a poluentes que influenciam na atividade da colinesterase plasmática.(AU)

Biomarkers can be used in a predictive manner, permitting actions control to be taken before they occur irreversible damage with severe environmental ecological consequences, however, sentinel species are needed to evaluate these markers. Sea turtles affected by fibropapillomas are considered sentinel species, signaling the marine environmental imbalance in their areas of occurrence. With the objective to use the plasma cholinesterase activity in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) as a biomarker, the measurement of enzyme activity was evaluated in healthy animals and in location of low pollution impact (Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco, Brazil) to serve as a reference for comparison with animals trapped in places with higher pollution impact. Were analyzed heparinized plasma samples from 35 captured animals. All samples analyzed showed enzymatic activity of plasma cholinesterase. The values obtained ranged between 162-379 IU/L, with mean and standard deviation of 216.4 ± 51.4 IU/L. In studies of repeatability and reproducibility were obtained variance coefficients of less than 5% in all analyzes, so the analytical methodology proved successful. The longevity of marine turtles of the species C. mydas, feeding behavior, along with the fact possess detectable enzyme activity may indicate this species as a bioindicator of exposure to pollutants that influence plasma cholinesterase activity.(AU)