Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth, Nutritional Composition, and Hematology of Arctic Charr (Salvelinus Alpinus) Exposed to Toxaphene and Tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium Dendriticum) Larvae

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Toxaphene, an organochlorine pesticide, is the major contaminant of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in the Canadian Arctic. The objective of this study was to investigate the combined effects of toxaphene exposure and infection by the larval stage of the cestode Diphyllobothrium dendriticum on fish growth, nutritional composition, and hematology. Hatchery-reared Arctic charr were subjected to one of four treatments: (1) oral administration of corn oil (control); (2) single oral dose of 10 μg/g wet wt toxaphene dissolved in corn oil; (3) exposure to 15 larval D. dendriticum; and (4) exposure to toxaphene and D. dendriticum in combination. The experiment was run for 104 days. Mean final toxaphene concentrations in charr muscle were 0.121, 0.336, 0.131 and 0.458 μg/g wet wt in each treatment group, respectively. Exposure to toxaphene and D. dendriticum decreased fish growth and condition as well muscle lipid and protein content. However, toxaphene did not increase the susceptibility of Arctic charr to parasite infection. Overall, 25 of 40 fish (62.5%) exposed to larval D. dendriticum became infected. Parasitized charr had decreased hematocrits and increased lymphocyte: erythrocyte ratios. Although total blood cell counts were decreased in all treatments compared with controls, differential leucocyte counts were unaffected. Our results suggest that toxaphene does not moderate Arctic charr resistance to D. dendriticum and there is no contaminant-parasite interaction at environmental levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • D Belinsky HV Kuhnlein F Yeboah AF Penn HM Chan (1996) ArticleTitleComposition of fish consumed by the James Bay cree J Food Compost Anal 9 148–162 Occurrence Handle10.1006/jfca.1996.0022 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XksFWgtrY%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • TG Boivin G Power (1990) ArticleTitleWinter condition and proximate composition of anadromous Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in eastern Ungava Bay, Quebec Can J Zool 68 2284–2289

    Google Scholar 

  • G Bylund (1972) ArticleTitlePathogenic effects of a diphyllobothriid plerocercoid on its host fishes Commentationes biologicae, Societas Scientatium Fennica 58 1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • M Cameron IM Weis (1993) ArticleTitleOrganochlorine contaminants in the country food diet of the Belcher Island Inuit, Northwest Territories, Canada Arctic 46 42–48

    Google Scholar 

  • HM Chan (1998) ArticleTitleA database for environmental contaminants in traditional foods in northern and arctic Canada: Development and applications Food Addit Contam 15 127–134 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXhslSgtrg%3D Occurrence Handle9602917

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • HM Chan F Yeboah (2000) ArticleTitleTotal toxaphene and specific congeners in fish from the Yukon, Canada Chemosphere 41 507–515 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0045-6535(99)00479-8 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjtFWkt7c%3D Occurrence Handle10819221

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JK Christians (1999) ArticleTitleControlling for body mass effects: Is part-whole correlation important? Physiol Biochem Zool 72 250–253 Occurrence Handle10.1086/316661 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M7nsVWltw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10068628

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M Cleeman F Riget GB Paulsen J Boer Particlede J Klungsøyr P Aastrup (2000) ArticleTitleOrganochlorines in Greenland lake sediments and landlocked Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) Sci Total Environ 245 173–185 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0048-9697(99)00442-8 Occurrence Handle10682365

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MA Curtis (1995) ArticleTitleThe ecological parasitology of charrs: Relationships between parasites and food web structure in northern lakes Nord J Freshw Res 71 92–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis MA (1984) Diphyllobothrium spp. and the Arctic charr: Parasite acquisition and its effects on a lake-resident population. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Arctic Charr, Biology of the Atlantic charr, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, May 4–8, 1981, pp 395–411

    Google Scholar 

  • MA Curtis M Bérubé A Stenzel (1995) ArticleTitleParasitological evidence for specialized foraging behavior in lake-resident Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) Can J Fish Aquat Sci 521 186–194

    Google Scholar 

  • HJ Geus Particlede H Besselink A Brouwer et al. (1999) ArticleTitleEnvironmental occurrence, analysis, and toxicology of toxaphene compounds Environ Health Perspect 107 115–144 Occurrence Handle10229713

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Delorme PD (1995) The effects of toxaphene, chlordane and 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran on lake trout and white sucker in an ecosystem experiment and the distribution and effects of 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran on white suckers and broodstock rainbow trout in laboratory experiments. Doctoral dissertation. University of Manitoba, Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada

  • PD Delorme DCG Muir WL Lockhart KH Mills FJ Ward (1993) ArticleTitleDepuration of toxaphene in lake trout and white suckers in a natural system following a single I P. dose. Chemosphere 27 1965–1973 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0045-6535(93)90391-H Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXntFWltA%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • AT Fisk RJ Norstrom CD Cymbalisty DCG Muir (1998) ArticleTitleDietary accumulation and depuration of hydrophobic organochlorines: Bioaccumulation parameters and their relationship with the octanol/water partition coefficient Environ Toxicol Chem 17 951–961 Occurrence Handle10.1897/1551-5028(1998)017<0951:DAADOH>2.3.CO;2 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXis1Wht78%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furgal C, Shortreed J, Keith R, Craig L, Dewailly E (1995) Inuit perspectives on environmental contaminants: Report on Avativut/Ilusivut risk management workshops in Nunavik and Labrador. Institute for Risk Research, University of Waterloo, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • D Gerdeaux MA Fillon L Overmeire ParticleVan (1995) ArticleTitleArctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, of Lake Annecy: Yield, growth and parasitism by Eubothrium salvelini Nord J Freshw Res 71 245–251

    Google Scholar 

  • HJ Geyer A Kaune KW, Schramm et al. (1999) ArticleTitlePredicting bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of polychlorinated bornane (toxaphene) congeners in fish and comparison with bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) in biota from the aquatic environment Chemosphere 39 655–663 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0045-6535(99)00130-7 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXkt1Cjsrw%3D Occurrence Handle10422253

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Henricson (1978) ArticleTitleThe dynamics of infection of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch) and D. ditremum (Creplin) in the char Salvelinus alpinus (L.) in Sweden J Fish Biol 13 51–71

    Google Scholar 

  • J Henricson (1977) ArticleTitleThe abundance and distribution of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch) and D. ditremum (Creplin) in the char Salvelinus alpinus (L.) in Sweden J Fish Biol 11 231–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiriart V (1997) E’valuation de l’état de santé chez l’omble chevalier anadrome (Salvelinus alpinus) de l’est de l’arctique canadien: une étude histopathologique. Master’s thesis, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Quebec, Canada

  • AH Houston (1997) ArticleTitleReview: Are the classical hematological variables acceptable indicators of fish health? Trans Am Fish Soc 126 879–894 Occurrence Handle10.1577/1548-8659(1997)126<0879:RATCHV>2.3.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M Jobling SJS Johansen H Foshaug IC Burkow EH Jørgensen (1998) ArticleTitleLipid dynamics in anadromous Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.): Seasonal variations in lipid storage depots and lipid class composition Fish Physiol Biochem 18 225–240 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1007747201521 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjtVeitLs%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EH Jørgensen SJS Johansen M Jobling (1997) ArticleTitleSeasonal patterns of growth, lipid deposition and lipid depletion in anadromous Arctic charr J Fish Biol 51 312–326

    Google Scholar 

  • RA Khan J Thulin (1991) ArticleTitleInfluence of pollution on parasites of aquatic animals Adv Parasitol 30 201–238 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By6B1Mfit1w%3D Occurrence Handle2069073

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • F Kuhlow (1953) ArticleTitleU¨ber die Enwicklung und Anatomie von Diphyllobothrium dendriticum Nitzsch 1824 Z Parasitenkd 16 1–35 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00260407 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CyuD2MjisFc%3D Occurrence Handle13137365

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • KD Lafferty (1997) ArticleTitleWhat can parasites tell us about human impacts on the environment? Parasitol Today 13 251–255 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2cznsFSruw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15275061

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • RR Lassiter TG Hallam (1990) ArticleTitleSurvival of the fattest: Implications for acute effects of lipophilic chemicals on aquatic populations Environ Toxicol Chem 9 585–595 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXksFeqsL4%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T Lecklin M Nikinmaa (1998) ArticleTitleErythropoiesis in Arctic charr is not stimulated by anaemia J Fish Biol 53 1169–1177

    Google Scholar 

  • K MacKenzie HH Williams B Williams AH McVicar R Siddall (1995) ArticleTitleParasites as indicators of water quality and the potential use of helminth transmission in marine pollution studies Adv Parasitol 35 85–144 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqB38ritFY%3D Occurrence Handle7709856

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer FL, Mehrle PM (1977) Toxicological aspects of toxaphene in fish: a summary. Proceedings of the 42nd North American Wildlife Conference, pp 365–373

    Google Scholar 

  • BM Miskimmin DW Schindler (1994) ArticleTitleLong-term invertebrate community response to toxaphene treatment in two lakes: 50-yr records reconstructed from lake sediments Can J Fish Aquat Sci 51 923–932

    Google Scholar 

  • AP Møller P Christe J Mavarez (1998) ArticleTitleCondition, disease and immune defense Oikos 83 301–306

    Google Scholar 

  • H Möller K Anders (1986) Diseases and parasites of marine fishes Verlag Möller Kiel, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • AJ Niimi BG Oliver (1988) ArticleTitleInfluence of molecular weight and molecular volume on dietary absorption efficiency of chemicals by fishes Can J Fish Aquat Sci 45 222–227 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXksV2ktr0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • AJ Nimi BG Oliver (1983) ArticleTitleBiological half-lives of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in whole fish and muscle of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) Can J Fish Aquat Sci 40 1388–1394

    Google Scholar 

  • K Oetjen H Karl (1998) ArticleTitleLevels of toxaphene indicator compounds in fish meal, fish oil and fish feed Chemosphere 37 1–11 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXjvFWks7k%3D Occurrence Handle9637004

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J Pellerin J Grondin (1998) ArticleTitleAssessing the state of Arctic ecosystem health: Bridging Inuit viewpoints and biological endpoints on fish health Ecosyst Health 4 236–247

    Google Scholar 

  • R Poulin (1992) ArticleTitleToxic pollution and parasitism in freshwater fish Parasitol Today 8 58–61 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2cvpvV2htw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15463572

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R Rahkonen J Aalto P Koski J Särkkä K Juntunen (1996) ArticleTitleCestode larvae Diphyllobothrium dendriticum as a cause of heart disease leading to mortality in hatchery-reared sea trout and brown trout Dis Aquat Org 25 15–22

    Google Scholar 

  • R Rahkonen M Pasternack (1998) ArticleTitleEffect of experimental Diphyllobothrium dendriticum infection on the blood leucocyte pattern of brown trout at two temperature levels Boreal Environ Res 3 381–386

    Google Scholar 

  • P Ross S Olpinski MA Curtis (1989) ArticleTitleRelationships between dietary practice and parasite zoonoses in northern Quebec Inuit communities Etudes Inuit 13 33–47

    Google Scholar 

  • MA Saleh (1991) ArticleTitleToxaphene: Chemistry, biochemistry, toxicity, and environmental fate Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 118 1–85 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By6C38nis1I%3D Occurrence Handle1992492

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • GJE Sharp AW Pike CJ Secombes (1992) ArticleTitleSequential development of the immune response in rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)] to experimental plerocercoid infections of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch, 1824) Parasitology 104 169–178 Occurrence Handle1614733

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • GJE Sharp AW Pike CJ Secombes (1989) ArticleTitleThe immune response of wild rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, to naturally acquired plerocercoid infections of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch, 1824) and D. ditremum (Creplin, 1825) J Fish Biol 35 781–794

    Google Scholar 

  • GA Wedemeyer RW Gould WT Yasutake (1983) ArticleTitleSome potentials and limits of the leucocrit test as a fish health assessment method J Fish Biol 23 711–716

    Google Scholar 

  • ME Wright (2000) Life history ecology of the cestode Diphyllobothrium dendriticum in copepod and fish hosts McGill University Quebec, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • ME Wright MA Curtis (2001) ArticleTitleTransmission of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsch) from calanoid copepods to Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus [Linnaeus]) Comparative Parasitology 68 112–116

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants to M. A. C (National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and H. M. C (National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada). We thank M. E. Wright, G. Bingham, D. Leggee, V. Barthet, F. L. Chu, and S. Skopp for their assistance. M. E. Rau, M. E. Scott, and three anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resource Sciences, MacDonald Campus, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec

    C. A. Blanar & M. A. Curtis

  2. School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition and Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment, MacDonald Campus, McGill University, 21111, Lakeshore Road, Sainte Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada

    H. M. Chan

Authors
  1. C. A. Blanar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. Curtis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. M. Chan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. M. Chan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Blanar, C.A., Curtis, M.A. & Chan, H.M. Growth, Nutritional Composition, and Hematology of Arctic Charr (Salvelinus Alpinus) Exposed to Toxaphene and Tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium Dendriticum) Larvae. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 48, 397–404 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-004-0064-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-004-0064-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation