Abstract
Heavy metal concentrations in tissues and cestode parasite of the African giant rat collected from staff quarters of the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Possible human health risk associated with consumption of contaminated rats was also determined using appropriate human intake models. The cestode isolated from the rat was identified as Inermicapsifer guineensis with total infection rate of 100%. The mean concentrations of heavy metals (mg/kg) in liver tissues of the giant rat ranged from 1.82 to 3.98 (Pb), 0.22 to 0.54 (Cd), 22.14 to 45.53 (Zn), 1.87 to 3.37 (Cu) and 1.25 to 3.15 (Co); in heart tissues ranged from 1.39 to 2.01 (Pb), 0.27 to 0.32 (Cd), 23.93 to 53.97 (Zn), 2.17 to 4.66 (Cu) and 1.45 to 2.27 (Co); in kidney tissues ranged from 0.75 to 1.67 (Pb), 0.41 to 0.93 (Cd), 22.77 to 42.14 (Zn), 1.82 to 1.90 (Cu) and 2.05 to 3.08 (Co); in muscle tissues ranged from 1.02 to 1.77 (Pb), 0.24 to 0.31 (Cd), 22.60 to 45.52 (Zn), 1.73 to 2.13 (Cu) and 1.04 to 1.82 (Co) and in parasite tissues ranged from 0.002 to 0.005 (Pb), 0 to 0.001(Cd), 1.19 to 2.63 (Cu) and 0.001 to 0.003 (Co). Mean total concentrations of individual heavy metals in the tissues and parasite of the rat decreased in the order zinc > copper > cobalt > lead > cadmium. Considering the mean concentrations of accumulated heavy metals, the heart and liver were found to be key target organs for heavy metal accumulation. Highly significant positive correlations was observed between heavy metal concentrations in tissues and the parasite (p<0.05, r=0.998), however, bioaccumulation values indicated much higher concentrating capacity of heavy metals in the rat organs than the cestode parasite. Heavy metals are potential risk sources of contamination in the African giant rat ( Cricetomys gambianus ) and should therefore be priority for management in order to control human health risk through ingestion pathway exposures. Keywords: Heavy metals, African giant rat, Parasite, Organs, Risk
Highlights
There is no doubt that the environment receives large quantities of heavy metals as a consequence of anthropogenic activities, and these pollutants can have detrimental effects on humans as well as on the health of the ecosystem (Bharti, 2012)
Identification of the Cestode parasites in captured giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus): The cestode isolated from the rat was identified as Inermicapsifer guineensis with total infection rate of 100%
The captured giant rats were observed to be highly infected with other parasites, but only cestodes were isolated and analysed for heavy metal residues
Summary
There is no doubt that the environment receives large quantities of heavy metals as a consequence of anthropogenic activities, and these pollutants can have detrimental effects on humans as well as on the health of the ecosystem (Bharti, 2012). The African giant rat is one of such rodents used as animal models for environmental monitoring of heavy metal pollution Their ubiquitous nature of being found in a variety of habitats ranging from arid areas to temperate areas (Olude et al, 2009), their small body size and the fact that they can be caught makes them relaible bioindicators (Usende et al, 2017). These organisms have been widely used for the determination of levels of environmental contamination based on determination of heavy metal concentration in different tissues, organs or the whole body. The present study was carried out with the aim to determine and examine the levels of some heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu and Co) in the liver, heart, kidney and muscle, together with parasitological examination and accumulation assessment of heavy metals in the dominant cestode parasite of the African giant rats from staff quarters of the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, with a view to identifying reliable environmental bioindicators of heavy metal pollution
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