Abstract
Fish are exposed to numerous stressors in the environment including pollution, bacterial and viral agents, and toxic substances. Our study with common carps leveraged an integrated approach (i.e., histology, biochemical and hematological measurements, and analytical chemistry) to understand how cyanobacteria interfere with the impact of a model viral agent, Carp sprivivirus (SVCV), on fish. In addition to the specific effects of a single stressor (SVCV or cyanobacteria), the combination of both stressors worsens markers related to the immune system and liver health. Solely combined exposure resulted in the rise in the production of immunoglobulins, changes in glucose and cholesterol levels, and an elevated marker of impaired liver, alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Analytical determination of the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and its structurally similar congener MC-RR and their conjugates showed that SVCV affects neither the levels of MC in the liver nor the detoxification capacity of the liver. MC-LR and MC-RR were depurated from liver mostly in the form of cysteine conjugates (MC-LR-Cys, MC-RR-Cys) in comparison to glutathione conjugates (LR-GSH, RR-GSH). Our study brought new evidence that cyanobacteria worsen the effect of viral agents. Such inclusion of multiple stressor concept helps us to understand how and to what extent the relevant environmental stressors co-influence the health of the fish population.
Highlights
IntroductionIn eutrophic waters, fish are exposed to numerous stressors including increased temperature, pollutants, toxic cyanobacteria, and pathogens
In the environment, in eutrophic waters, fish are exposed to numerous stressors including increased temperature, pollutants, toxic cyanobacteria, and pathogens.While we can analyze the chemical and physical parameters of the aquatic environment and the level of pollution, we poorly understand how biological agents, in cases when they coexist in a single environment, may affect the health of aquatic animals, including fish
The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of cyanobacterial biomass and infection agent represented by the Carp sprivivirus (SVCV), as both are commonly present in aquatic environments and affect fish health
Summary
In eutrophic waters, fish are exposed to numerous stressors including increased temperature, pollutants, toxic cyanobacteria, and pathogens. While we can analyze the chemical and physical parameters of the aquatic environment and the level of pollution, we poorly understand how biological agents, in cases when they coexist in a single environment, may affect the health of aquatic animals, including fish. Fish viruses, such as Carp sprivivirus (formerly spring viraemia of carp virus, SVCV), are integral parts of the environment and responsible for fish mortality and morbidity [1]. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), toxic species of cyanobacteria represent one of the most serious environmental problems for aquatic and human health worldwide [3]
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