Erythrocyte micronucleus cytome assay of 17 wild bird species from the central Monte desert, Argentina

Abstract

Birds have the potential to be considered valuable bioindicators of the quality of ecosystems and the environmental impact of pollutants. The aims of this study were to determine the micronuclei frequency and other nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes by analyzing a wild bird community from central Monte desert (Argentina) and to clarify if there were any differences among certain species. Frequencies of nuclear abnormalities were determined in 73 wild birds belonging to 17 species and two orders (Passeriformes and Columbiformes). A high proportion of individuals, 90.4 and 80.9 %, had erythrocytes with micronuclei and nuclear buds, respectively. Notched nuclei, binucleated cells, nuclear tails, and nucleoplasmic bridges were also recorded. Certain species appeared to be more informative than others with regard to the possibility of being used as bioindicators of genetic damage. Saltator aurantiirostris and Columbina picui were the only species that showed significantly different frequencies of nuclear alterations, in comparison with the other species. The frequencies here presented are the first reported for these bird species from the orders Passeriformes and Columbiformes. This research supports the notion that the use of these biomarkers could be effectively applied to evaluate spontaneous or induced genetic instability in wild birds.

Potential Use of Distinct Biomarkers (Trace Metals, Micronuclei and Nuclear Abnormalities) in a Heterogeneous Sample of Birds in Southern Brazil.

“…The NA most frequently found in this study (notched nucleus and binucleated cells) were also the most representative abnormalities in a community of birds from a desert environment (Quero et al 2016) and in a falcon species from an island environment (Tsarpali et al 2020). Notched nucleus was the second most frequent NA found in a falcon species in an agricultural area (Frixione and Rodríguez-Estrella 2020), but the causes and the mechanism behind the formation of this abnormality are unknown (Quero et al 2016). The presence of a great number of binucleated cells in birds have been related to exposure to particular contaminants, like in Japanese quails (…”

“…We de ned the eld sampling based on previous studies in which many species of birds were captured and during the analysis of biomarkers, some of them revealed potential to be used as bioindicators of environmental quality (Abbasi et This is partially due to the fact that only a few species had similar sampling sizes in all sampling sites, what restricted comparisons between individuals of the same species from different sites, making it di cult to evaluate their bioindicator potential. Our samples were predominantly composed of a few individuals from many different species with different interspeci c biological and ecological characteristics (behavior, diet, availability of food resources, preferences for distinct foraging areas) and also potential physiological differences (absorption, retention and excretion of contaminants) (Burger and Gochfeld 2000;Costa et al, 2011;Quero et al 2016). Therefore, they might respond in varied ways to exposure to contaminants (Eens et al 1999;Manjula et al 2015).…”

“…These alterations represent impacts over DNA (Baesse et al 2015) and are indicatives of recent exposure to contaminants (Santos et al 2017 (Fritsch et al 2012;Quero et al 2016) are some of the factors responsible for metal contamination and alterations of the numbers of MN and NA in birds. Birds in higher trophic levels present higher concentrations of metals (Zolfaghari et al 2007;Lodenius and Solonen 2013;Abbasi et al 2015) due to the biomagni cation process (Burger and Gochfeld 1995;Tasneem et al 2020).…”

“…Birds in higher trophic levels present higher concentrations of metals (Zolfaghari et al 2007;Lodenius and Solonen 2013;Abbasi et al 2015) due to the biomagni cation process (Burger and Gochfeld 1995;Tasneem et al 2020). Food preferences might in uence the levels of MN (Quirós et al 2008) and the formation of NA (Quero et al 2016). Quirós et al (2008) found signi cant differences between heron nestlings species that feed in aquatic and terrestrial habitats, reporting higher levels of MN to terrestrial species, which usually feed on insects.…”

Potential use of distinct biomarkers (trace metals, micronuclei, and nuclear abnormalities) in a heterogeneous sample of birds in southern Brazil

“…The micronucleus (MN) test (Baesse et al 2015) and the nuclear abnormalities (NA) test (Quero et al 2016) are used for genotoxicity evaluation. MN and NA are formed when organisms are exposed to genotoxic agents (Angeletti e Carere, 2014).…”