The Requirement and Toxicity of Selenium in Rainbow Trout (Salmo Gairdneri)

Abstract

This study measured the dietary selenium requirement of rainbow trout and their response to excessive levels of dietary selenium. A dietary selenium level of 0.07 microgram/g dry feed with a waterborne selenium level of 0.4 +/- 0.2 microgram/liter and a dietary vitamin E level of 0.4 IU/g dry diet was sufficient to prevent frank selenium deficiency symptoms. Maximal plasma GSH.px activity was obtained at a dietary selenium level between 0.15 and 0.38 microgram/g dry feed which is less than the average selenium concentration of commercial diets. Chronic dietary selenium toxicity occurred at 13 microgram selenium/g dry feed. Major effects of selenium toxicity were reduced growth rate, poor feed efficiency and a high number of mortalities. No histopathological lesions or significant deviation in the investigated blood parameters or liver somatic index were detected in trout raised on diets containing 13 microgram selenium/g dry feed. Tissue selenium analysis indicated that trout can maintain homeostasis with dietary selenium levels up to 1.25 microgram/g dry feed. The selenium uptake and accumulation in tissues of trout reared on diets containing in excess of 3 microgram/g dry feed may ultimately be toxic to trout if maintained over long periods of time.

Interaction of methylmercury and selenium on the bioaccumulation and histopathology in medaka (Oryzias latipes)

“…Selenium can antagonize the toxicities of various heavy metals by complex interaction mechanisms in organism. Nevertheless, superfluous selenium accumulated in animals also restrains some physiological oxidation process, accordingly inhibiting the activities of diverse enzymes and thiol-containing amino acids (Hilton et al, 1980). Excessive intake of selenium can lead to loss of hair and nails, vomiting, nausea, nerve damage, skin rashes, bad breath, brittle bones, and so on (Xu and Fan, 1991).…”

Assessing the toxic threat of selenium to fish and aquatic birds

“…The procedure presented here was developed to address that information need. It includes the key parameters that are implicit in basic toxicological risk assessment such as concentration and exposure, but it also integrates biotic and 5) are based on a synthesis of toxicity, bioaccumulation, and sediment data from Traversy et al, 1975;Adams and Johnson, 1977;Birkner, 1978;Cumbie, 1978;Cumbie and Van Horn, 1978;Goettl and Davies, 1978;Cherry et al, 1979;Furr et al, 1979;Guthrie and Cherry, 1979;Holland, 1979;Duke Power Company, 1980;Hilton et al, 1980;Nassos et al, 1980;Speyer, 1980;Hilton and Hodson, 1983;Hodson and Hilton, 1983;Nriagu and Wong, 1983;Rudd and Turner, 1983;Sorensen and Bauer, 1983,1984a, 1984bTurner and Rudd, 1983;Bryson et al, 1984;Garrett and Inman, 1984;Hicks et al, 1984;Martin and Hartman, 1984;Sager and Cofield, 1984;Sorensen et al, 1982aSorensen et al, , 1982bSorensen et al, , 1983aSorensen et al, , 1983bSorensen et al, , 1984Wiener et al, 1984;Woock, 1984;Woock and Summers, 1984;Finley, 1985;Lemly, 1985aLemly, , 1993a…”

Respiratory and Reproductive Characteristics of Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) Inhabiting a Coal Ash Settling Basin

“…Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and juvenile bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) all exhibit mortality at whole body concentrations of 5-6 g/g Se dry mass (Hilton et al 1980;Hamilton et al 1990; US Fish and Wildlife Service 1990). Schultz and Hermanutz (1990) documented reproductive failure in fathead minnows when their embryos contained whole body Se concentrations of 16 g/g dry mass.…”