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Erythrocyte micronucleus cytome assay of 17 wild bird species from the central Monte desert, Argentina

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Abstract

Birds have the potential to be considered valuable bioindicators of the quality of ecosystems and the environmental impact of pollutants. The aims of this study were to determine the micronuclei frequency and other nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes by analyzing a wild bird community from central Monte desert (Argentina) and to clarify if there were any differences among certain species. Frequencies of nuclear abnormalities were determined in 73 wild birds belonging to 17 species and two orders (Passeriformes and Columbiformes). A high proportion of individuals, 90.4 and 80.9 %, had erythrocytes with micronuclei and nuclear buds, respectively. Notched nuclei, binucleated cells, nuclear tails, and nucleoplasmic bridges were also recorded. Certain species appeared to be more informative than others with regard to the possibility of being used as bioindicators of genetic damage. Saltator aurantiirostris and Columbina picui were the only species that showed significantly different frequencies of nuclear alterations, in comparison with the other species. The frequencies here presented are the first reported for these bird species from the orders Passeriformes and Columbiformes. This research supports the notion that the use of these biomarkers could be effectively applied to evaluate spontaneous or induced genetic instability in wild birds.

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Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the technical assistance of Mr. Marcelo J Tornello, Lic. Ania R Gil, and Mr. Esteban Rosales; to Dr. Victor Cueto by the loan of the mist nets; and to Universidad Juan Agustín Maza (Mendoza) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Genética, Ambiente y Reproducción (GenAR), Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Mendoza, Argentina

    Arnoldo A. M. Quero, Daniela M. Ferré & Nora B. M. Gorla

  2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina

    Arnoldo A. M. Quero, Daniela M. Ferré, Agustín Zarco & Nora B. M. Gorla

  3. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas (IADIZA), CCT Mendoza- CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina

    Agustín Zarco

  4. Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades (LEcEN), Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET Litoral, UNL - CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina

    Pablo F. Cuervo

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  1. Arnoldo A. M. Quero
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  2. Daniela M. Ferré
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  3. Agustín Zarco
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Correspondence to Arnoldo A. M. Quero.

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Procedure protocols performed in studies involving animals were approved by the Institutional Commission for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Universidad Juan Agustín Maza).

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

Frequency of micronuclei per 1000 cells. Abbreviations: Colpic, Columbina picui; Elaalb, Elaenia albiceps; Pooorn, Poospiza ornata; Pootor, Poospiza torquata; Salaur, Saltator aurantiirostris; Salmur, Saltatricula multicolor; Zoncap, Zonotrichia capensis. (GIF 3 kb)

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ESM 2

Frequency of nuclear buds per 1000 cells. Abbreviations: Colpic, Columbina picui; Elaalb, Elaenia albiceps; Pooorn, Poospiza ornata; Pootor, Poospiza torquata; Salaur, Saltator aurantiirostris; Salmur, Saltatricula multicolor; Zoncap, Zonotrichia capensis. (GIF 2 kb)

High Resolusion Image (TIFF 646 kb)

ESM 3

Frequency of notched nuclei per 1000 cells. Abbreviations: Colpic, Columbina picui; Elaalb, Elaenia albiceps; Pooorn, Poospiza ornata; Pootor, Poospiza torquata; Salaur, Saltator aurantiirostris; Salmur, Saltatricula multicolor; Zoncap, Zonotrichia capensis. (GIF 2 kb)

High Resolusion Image (TIFF 646 kb)

ESM 4

Frequency of binucleated cells per 1000 cells. Abbreviations: Colpic, Columbina picui; Elaalb, Elaenia albiceps; Pooorn, Poospiza ornata; Pootor, Poospiza torquata; Salaur, Saltator aurantiirostris; Salmur, Saltatricula multicolor; Zoncap, Zonotrichia capensis. (GIF 2 kb)

High Resolusion Image (TIFF 646 kb)

ESM 5

Frequency of nuclear tails per 1000 cells. Abbreviations: Colpic, Columbina picui; Elaalb, Elaenia albiceps; Pooorn, Poospiza ornata; Pootor, Poospiza torquata; Salaur, Saltator aurantiirostris; Salmur, Saltatricula multicolor; Zoncap, Zonotrichia capensis. (GIF 2 kb)

High Resolusion Image (TIFF 646 kb)

ESM 6

Frequency of nucleoplasmic bridges per 1000 cells. Abbreviations: Colpic, Columbina picui; Elaalb, Elaenia albiceps; Pooorn, Poospiza ornata; Pootor, Poospiza torquata; Salaur, Saltator aurantiirostris; Salmur, Saltatricula multicolor; Zoncap, Zonotrichia capensis. (GIF 2 kb)

High Resolusion Image (TIFF 646 kb)

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Quero, A.A.M., Ferré, D.M., Zarco, A. et al. Erythrocyte micronucleus cytome assay of 17 wild bird species from the central Monte desert, Argentina. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 25224–25231 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7638-5

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