engleski

Biomarkers of effect and oxidative stress analysis in blood of white stork (Ciconia ciconia) nestlings from Croatia

The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a breeding species in continental Croatia. It feeds usually close to the breeding site with small mammals, amphibians, snakes, fish, earthworms, large insects and their larvae in the flooded river plains, extensively farmed meadows and pastures or water meadows. White stork nestlings can provide quantitative information on the quality of the surrounding environment, and therefore was chosen as a model species for evaluation of molecular biomarkers. Aim of this study was to analyse biomarkers of effect: activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and carboxylesterase (CES), as well as oxidative stress biomarkers: activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as levels of glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). During white stork breeding season in 2020, five sampling locations were visited: Lonjsko polje, Jelas polje, Slavonski Brod - east, Podunavlje and Donje Podravlje. For biomarker analysis and sex determination blood samples (4 mL) were collected from the nestling brachial vein (n = 109). All biomarkers were measured in two blood fractions – plasma and S9 homogenate. Nestlings from Podunavlje and Donje Podravlje showed the lowest AChE and CES activity, indicating different presence of inhibitory xenobiotics when compared to different locations. Significant differences were also reported in oxidative stress biomarkers in response to different locations as the highest oxidative stress was recorded in Slavonski Brod - east and Podunavlje. Reported results propose that white stork nestlings could be affected by pollutants from their surrounding environment, due to proximity to metal, petroleum and agricultural industry. However, additional research is needed to confirm this assumption, as this is the first evaluation of blood biochemical parameters in white stork nestling population in Croatia.

blood sampling ; white-stork nestlings ; biomarker analysis ; oxidative stress ; Croatia

nije evidentirano