Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in liver samples of juvenile green sea turtles from Brazil: Can these compounds play a role in the development of fibropapillomatosis?

Author(s)

Zirena Vilca, Franz ^{[1, 2]} ; Rossi, Silmara ^[3] ; de Olinda, Ricardo Alves ^[4] ; Sanchez-Sarmiento, Angelica Maria ^[5] ; Setim Prioste, Fabiola Eloisa ^[3] ; Matushima, Eliana Reiko ^[3] ; Tornisielo, Valdemar Luiz ^{[5, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Nucl Energy Agr CENA, Ecotoxicol Lab, Av Centenario 303, POB 96, BR-13416000 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Nacl Altiplano, Escuela Posgrad, Av Floral 1153, Puno - Peru

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Grp Pesquisa Fibropapilomatose Tartarugas Marinha, Av Prof Dr Orlando Marques Paiva 87, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estadual Paraiba, Dept Estat CCT, BR-58101001 Campina Grande, PB - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Dept Patol, Lab Patol Comparada Anim Selvagens LAPCOM, Av Prof Dr Orlando Marques Paiva 87, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin; v. 130, p. 215-222, MAY 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) poses a significant threat to the conservation of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-PAHs are considered mutagenic, carcinogenic and toxic, and can act as cofactor of this disease. In order to evaluate possible differences between green sea turtles with and without FP, we monitored 15 PAHs in liver samples of 44 specimens (24 with FP) captured in Brazil. We detected eight PAHs and quantified phenanthrene in all green sea turtles with FP. Specimens without FP presented lower values than the tumored ones (1.48 ng g(-1) and 17.35 ng g(-1), respectively; p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between tumored and non-tumored specimens, among studied areas, or Southwest Atlantic Fibropapillomatosis Score. Even though we found higher concentrations in the liver samples of green sea turtles with FP, further studies are necessary to confirm if these pollutants are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/14319-6 - Ecology and etiology of fibropapillomatosis in Chelonia mydas (Testudines, Cheloniidae) populations: structure of populations and the role of polychlorinated biphenyls and toxic potentially metals for the development of diseases
• Grantee: Eliana Reiko Matushima
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/13683-6 - Evaluation of the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the neritic areas for populations of Chelonia mydas of the Brazilian coast and study of residues in individuals affected by fibropapillomatosis
• Grantee: Franz Zirena Vilca
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 11/04565-7 - Presence of environmental contaminants in tissues of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) from the brazilian coast: prevalence study in animals affected by fibropapilomatosis
• Grantee: Angelica Maria Sanchez Sarmiento
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master