Bioaccumulation of Metals inAfrican Brush-tailed Porcupine, Atherurus africanus (Gray, 1842) in the Tropical Rainforests of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Wildlife meat is an important source of protein in tropical and subtropical regions. Samples of African brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus), a wildlife meat source, were procured from Oluwo Market, Epe, Epe Local Government Area (L.G.A.), Lagos and Odo Ona Kekere in Oluyole L.G.A. Ibadan, Nigeria. Trace metals such as zinc, cadmium, vanadium, barium, nickel, copper, lead, cobalt, chromium, and manganese in the liver and intestine and the associated implications on the lipid profile, and antioxidant biomarkers were investigated. The concentrations of all the metals in the liver and intestine of the porcupines were below the established FEPA standard of 100mg/kg. Zinc> barium> vanadium was the order of significant bioaccumulation of metals in the liver of A. africanus.The other metals poorly bioaccumulated in the organs, with the liver having bioaccumulation factors lower than 1. In the intestine, only barium was significantly bioaccumulated, while the other metals bioaccumulation factors lower than 1. The levels of triglyceride and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the intestine were much higher than the level detected in the liver. The bioaccumulation rates of zinc and vanadium, coupled with the correlation of the metals with the indices of oxidative stress and dyslipidemia might be a prognosis worthy of monitoring. In the intestine, protein had strong negative correlations relationships with SOD (-0.73), and catalase (-0.84). This indicated the tendencies of damage of the cell membrane proteins due to an increased antioxidant defense system. The results presented did not implicate barium in the intestine. In natural environment, multiple factors might be responsible for the concerns detected in the intestine of the animal.Further study is recommended to determine the leading factors in the multi-stress conditions of the porcupines. This shall be of paramount benefit to the conservation of the animal and the protection of the consumers.