Micronucleus and different nuclear abnormalities in wild birds in the Cerrado, Brazil

Presence of micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in Caracara (Polyborus) plancus living in an airport area in southern Brazil

The aviation sector is believed to be responsible for considerable environmental damage attributed to emission of a large number and amount of pollutants. Airports are often surrounded by forest fragments and humid areas that attract birds of prey and hence may potentially serve as useful bioindicators. The aim of the present study was to examine genotoxic potential in raptors exposed to airport pollution using the micronucleus (MN) test and morphological changes as evidenced by bilateral symmetry. This investigation was conducted at Salgado Filho International Airport of Porto Alegre - RS as well as in private and zoological breeding grounds. The presence of metals was measured in the blood cells of the collected birds. Seventeen birds (Caracara (Polyborus) plancus) were used in this study 11 from exposed and 6 from non-exposed group. The nuclear alterations clearly indicate that organisms exposed to airport pollution exhibited a significantly higher frequency of genetic damage compared to non-exposed birds. Further, manganese and chromium were detected exclusively in the blood of the exposed group. In contrast, the analysis of bilateral symmetry did not detect any significant morphologic differences between the two groups. Therefore, data indicate that blood genotoxic stress occurs in birds of prey living in civil aviation areas as evidenced by MN frequency increase and presence of manganese and chromium.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in little penguins and associations with urbanisation and health parameters

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasingly detected in wildlife and present concerning and unknown health risks. While there is a growing body of literature describing PFAS in seabird species, knowledge from temperate Southern Hemisphere regions is lacking. Little penguins (Eudyptula minor) can nest and forage within heavily urbanised coastal environments and hence may be at risk of exposure to pollutants. We analysed scat contaminated nesting soils (n = 50) from 17 colonies in lutruwita/Tasmania for 16 PFAS, plasma samples (n = 45) from nine colonies, and three eggs for 49 PFAS. We detected 14 PFAS across the sample types, with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) most commonly detected. Mean concentration of PFOS in plasma was 2.56 ± 4.3 ng/mL ( Collapse

Key Words

• Ecotoxicology
• Genotoxicity
• Human impacts
• Seabird sentinels
• Wildlife health

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MESH Headings

• Male
• Female
• Animals
• Spheniscidae
• Urbanization
• Alkanesulfonic Acids/analysis
• Environmental Pollutants/analysis
• Fluorocarbons/analysis
• Soil
• Sulfonic Acids

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Affiliation(s)

Melanie R Wells Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Battery Point 7004, Tasmania, Australia.
Timothy L Coggan Environment Protection Authority Victoria, 200 Victoria Street, Carlton 3053, Victoria, Australia; ADE Consulting Group, U 4/95 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne 3207, Victoria, Australia
Gavin Stevenson Australian Ultra-Trace Laboratory, National Measurement Institute, North Ryde 2113, New South Wales, Australia
Navneet Singh ADE Consulting Group, U 4/95 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne 3207, Victoria, Australia
Matthew Askeland ADE Consulting Group, U 4/95 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne 3207, Victoria, Australia
Mary-Anne Lea Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Battery Point 7004, Tasmania, Australia; Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia
Annie Philips Wildlife Veterinary Consultant, Hobart 7000, Tasmania, Australia
Scott Carver Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, GA, USA 30602; Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, GA, USA 30602

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Chronic Degradation of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests Increases the Incidence of Genotoxicity in Birds

Multiple studies have shown that exposure to pollutants can increase genotoxic damage in different taxa. However, to our knowledge, the effects of environmental stress have been explored little. In certain stressful ecosystems, such as seasonally dry tropical forests, the combined effects of anthropogenic activities and ongoing global changes can cause an increase in environmental stresses, in turn, may trigger physiological and genetic effects on biodiversity. The present aims to assess changes in the prevalence of genotoxic damage in birds within three states of forest degradation in the Tumbesian Region of Western Ecuador. We used blood samples from 50 bird species to determine the frequency of micronucleus and nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes. Our results revealed a significant impact of forest degradation on the occurrence probability of micronucleus and nuclear abnormalities at the community level. Localities with higher levels of degradation exhibited higher levels of abnormalities. However, when analyzing the dominant species, we found contrasting responses. While Lepidocolaptes souleyetii showed a reduction in the proportion of nuclear abnormalities from the natural to shrub-dominated localities Troglodytes aedon and Polioptila plumbea showed an increase for semi-natural and shrub-dominated respectively. We concluded that the degradation process of these tropical forests increases the stress of bird community generating genotoxic damage. Bird responses seem to be species-specific, which could explain the differences in changes in bird composition reported in other studies.

Toxicity induced via ingestion of naturally-aged polystyrene microplastics by a small-sized terrestrial bird and its potential role as vectors for the dispersion of these pollutants

In recent years, there has been a growing number of studies on the impact of microplastics (MPs) on biota. However, its effects on birds' health are poorly understood. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the possible effects of ingestion of naturally-aged MPs by Coturnix Coturnix japonica (11 and 22 MP particles/day/bird, once a day, for 9 days), from different toxicity biomarkers. At the end of the experiment, it was found that the ingested MPs in birds showed a significant reduction in body biomass. Also, an increase in malondialdehyde production in the liver, brain, intestine, and gizzard of the birds, as well as a suppressive effect on hepatic nitric oxide production and superoxide dismutase activity in the liver and intestine were observed. Cerebral catalase activity was reduced in birds exposed to MPs and the cholinesterasic effect (marked by increased acetylcholinesterase activity) was observed in the muscle and brain of these animals. Despite these differences, through the main component analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, and integrated biomarker response assessment, we observed similar toxicological effects in birds exposed to different amounts of MPs. In addition, the size of MPs was reduced, and their shape was altered as they transited through the gastrointestinal system, which probably explains their accumulation in the liver of birds. An expressive number of MPs are released through the feces of the birds throughout the experiment. As far as we know, this is the first report that associates MPs ingestion by small-sized terrestrial birds with biochemical alterations viz., predictive of oxidative stress, redox imbalance, and cholinesterasic effect, in addition to shedding light on the potential role of these birds as vectors for dispersal of MPs in natural environments.

Longitudinal analysis of built environment and aerosol contamination associated with isolated COVID-19 positive individuals

The indoor environment is the primary location for the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), largely driven by respiratory particle accumulation in the air and increased connectivity between the individuals occupying indoor spaces. In this study, we aimed to track a cohort of subjects as they occupied a COVID-19 isolation dormitory to better understand the impact of subject and environmental viral load over time, symptoms, and room ventilation on the detectable viral load within a single room. We find that subject samples demonstrate a decrease in overall viral load over time, symptoms significantly impact environmental viral load, and we provide the first real-world evidence for decreased aerosol SARS-CoV-2 load with increasing ventilation, both from mechanical and window sources. These results may guide environmental viral surveillance strategies and be used to better control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within built environments and better protect those caring for individuals with COVID-19.

Basal levels of inorganic elements, genetic damages, and hematological values in captive Falco peregrinus

It is essential to determine the basal pattern of different biomarkers for future evaluation of animal health and biomonitoring studies. Due to their great displacement capacity and to being at the top of their food chains, birds of prey are suitable for monitoring purposes. Furthermore, some birds of prey are adapted to using resources in urban places, providing information about this environment. Thus, this study determined the basal frequency of micronuclei and other nuclear alterations in peripheral blood erythrocytes of Falco peregrinus. Hematological and inorganic elements analysis were also performed. For this purpose, 13 individuals (7 females and 6 males) were sampled in private breeding grounds. Micronucleus, nuclear buds, nucleoplasmic bridges, notched nuclei, binucleated cells and nuclear tails were quantified. Inorganic elements detected included the macro-elements Ca, P, Mg, Na, Cl, S and K as well as the micro-elements Fe, Al and Zn. Our study found similar values compared to previous studies determining the reference ranges of hematologic parameters in falcons. The only different value was observed in the relative number of monocytes. Thus, this study is the first approach to obtaining reference values of cytogenetic damage in this species and could be useful for future comparisons in biomonitoring studies.