Publication Abstract

Modulations in cell-mediated immunity of mussels following the Sea Empress oil spill

E.A. Dyrynda, R.J. Law, C.A. Kelly, P.E. Dyrynda, R.K. Pipe and N.A. Ratcliffe

The'Sea Empress' oil tanker grounded outside Milford Haven (Wales, UK) in February 1996, spilling approximately 70 000 tonnes of crude oil and contaminating over 100 km of coastline, causing mass mortalities and strandings of at least 12 mollusc species. Laboratory studies have shown that crude oil components induce immunomodulation in marine bivalves, of relevance to disease resistance and survival. Intensive field monitoring was started after the spill examining immunity and hydrocarbon levels in the mussel, Mytilus edulis L., a commercially-harvested species which can bioaccumulate contaminants including hydrocarbons. Comparisons of mussels from contaminated and reference sites revealed significant modulations in cell mediated immunity. Elevations in blood cell numbers and decreases in superoxide generation and phagocytosis were identified in contaminated animals. Molecular changes were indicated by reduced binding of a monoclonal antibody specific for M. Edulis blood cells. The immune response of contaminated mussels gradually improved and generally showed no significant differences compared with clean mussels after 11 weeks. By then, total hydrocarbon content in contaminated mussels had declined by 70 90%, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons determined had decreased by over 90%.

Reference:

E.A. Dyrynda, R.J. Law, C.A. Kelly, P.E. Dyrynda, R.K. Pipe and N.A. Ratcliffe, 1997. Modulations in cell-mediated immunity of mussels following the Sea Empress oil spill. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 77: 281-284