Publication Abstract

Liver histopathology in Baltic eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) – an indicator for marine environmental monitoring

N. F. Fricke,T. Lang, G. D. Stentiford*, S. W. Feist*

The use of liver histopathology in various fish species as indicator in monitoring programmes to assess the biological effect of exposure to anthropogenic contaminants is well established. However, although the eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) has repeatedly been recommended as an appropriate bioindicator species for monitoring purposes in the Baltic Sea, information on histological liver alterations of this species is scarce. In order to obtain an overview of histopathological liver alterations, a total of 1,070 eelpout, collected in the period between spring 2001 and winter 2010 from 34 sampling sites distributed over large parts of the Baltic Sea, were histologically analysed and assessed. Liver lesions recorded were described and classified according to established liver lesion categories. Various types of liver lesions were observed, suspected to be associated with environmental stress, including pollutant exposure, or pathogens. A high prevalence of non-specific and early toxicopathic non-neoplastic hepatic lesions was recorded. In contrast, pre-neoplastic lesions were observed only in rare cases and neoplastic changes were absent. These data reveal that eelpout liver is characterised by high sensitivity towards prevailing environmental conditions and, thus, eelpout liver histopathology is considered to be an appropriate indicator to monitor and assess biological effects of exposure to anthropogenic contaminants.

Reference:

N. F. Fricke,T. Lang, G. D. Stentiford*, S. W. Feist* (2012) Liver histopathology in Baltic eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) – an indicator for marine environmental monitoring. Marine Environmental Research 82, 1-14