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Assessment of Some Heavy Metals and Their Relationship with Oxidative Stress and Immunological Parameters in Aquatic Animal Species

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Abstract

Heavy metal accumulation changes the immune system and leads to oxidative damage in aquatic animals. The present study evaluated the correlation between heavy metal accumulation, with immunological and oxidative stress parameters, in various species in the aquatic environment of Western Iran. Fresh samples included fish (trout and carp) and shrimp obtained from Sanandaj aquaculture. After blood sampling and serum isolation for immunological study, meat sections of these animals were used to measure heavy metal concentrations to determine the oxidative stress and immunological parameters. The highest concentrations of Pb (0.82 ± 0.10), As (0.53 ± 0.18), Hg (0.47 ± 0.08), and Zn (28.77 ± 1.88) (µg/g) were found in trout, while the lowest accumulation of heavy metals except for Cd (0.24 ± 0.11) and Se (1.57 ± 0.42) (µg/g) were observed in shrimp. The antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (1.89 ± 0.13) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (1.96 ± 0.62) U/mg showed the highest concentrations in shrimp and lowest in the trout. Significant negative correlations were found between these enzymes with As and Pb in trout and carp. A significant positive correlation was determined between Se and Zn with GPx and a negative correlation with malondialdehyde (MDA) in shrimp. Immunological biomarkers indicated the concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-Ƴ were higher in fish than in shrimp, and the lowest IgM level was obtained in Shrimp. Increased Pb and Cd showed a significant relationship with increased IL-6 and TNF-α in trout compared to shrimp and carp. An increase in As and Se concentration beyound maximum permissible limits (MPL) were recorded in fish and shrimp, while a Zn level less than MPL was recorded. The target hazard quotients (THQ) and target cancer risk (TR) values of non-essential heavy metals were obtained under acceptable ranges. We suggest reducing the As and Pb content under aquaculture farms and increase in the amount of Zn through diets to keep healthy immunological and physiological conditions for aquatic species in the west of Iran.

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Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to sincerely appreciate the Research Vice-Chancellor at the Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch, for the collaboration to facilitate research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Sciences, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran

    Mahdieh Raeeszadeh

  2. Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

    Arash Javanshir Khoei

  3. Graduate of Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran

    Shakib Parhizkar & Fatemeh Tavakoli Rad

  4. Department of Aquatic Animal Health and Disease, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran

    Behnam Salimi

Authors
  1. Mahdieh Raeeszadeh
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  4. Fatemeh Tavakoli Rad
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  5. Behnam Salimi
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Contributions

Conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, and project administration: M. R and S. P. Software, supervision, validation, and visualization: M. R. Writing—original draft: M. R and F.T. Writing—review and editing: A.J and B. S.

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Correspondence to Mahdieh Raeeszadeh.

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Raeeszadeh, M., Khoei, A.J., Parhizkar, S. et al. Assessment of Some Heavy Metals and Their Relationship with Oxidative Stress and Immunological Parameters in Aquatic Animal Species. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 4547–4557 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03507-w

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