Publication Abstract

Changes in immune parameters of natural mussel Mytilus edulis populations following a major oil spill ('Sea Empress', Wales, UK)

Changes in immune parameters of natural mussel Mytilus edulis populations following a major oil spill ('Sea Empress', Wales, UK)

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

The mussel Mytilus edulis was used to investigate effects on the immune defence system, in parallel with the measurement of hydrocarbon contamination in the tissues. Mussels from 3 oiled sites were compared with those from an unoiled reference site at regular intervals for 2 years. Initially, sever immunmodulation occurred in oiled mussels which corresponded with very high tissue hydrocarbon levels. Mussel hemocytes showed significantly reduced phagocytic activity and superoxide generation, effects likely to have deleterious consequences for successful disease resistance. As contaminant levels decreased, immunomodulation became less extreme and generally showed recovery by May 1996. Between October 1996 and March 1997, a further increase in tissue hydrocarbon levels at all 4 sites occurred in tandem with reduced levels of immunocompetence, which were most extreme at the previously oiled sites. During this latter period, the high molecular weight PAHs were primarily responsible for the observed increase and were present in mussels at previously oiled sites at similar levels to those observed just after the spill. A subsequent reduction of contaminants in June 1997 was followed by a minor increase in levels between October 1997 and March 1998, which was coupled with only minimal changes in the immune parameters. The results suggest that regular, seasonal patterns occur normally in hydrocarbon levels and that these may induce changes in immunocompetence, which were therefore ':exacerbated greatly at the time of the original spill.

Reference:

E.A. Dyrynda, R.L. Law, P.E.J. Dyrynda, C.A. Kelly, R.K. Pipe and N.A. Ratcliffe, 2000. Changes in immune parameters of natural mussel Mytilus edulis populations following a major oil spill ('Sea Empress', Wales, UK). Marine Ecology Progress Series, 206: 155-170

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

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 206: 155-170