The utility of Saw-scaled viper,Echis pyramidum, and Kenyan sand boa,Eryx colubrinusas bioindicator of heavy metals bioaccumulation in relation to DPTA soil extract and biological consequences

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to compare between the ecotoxocological effects of Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Mo, Mn, B, Al, Sr, Pb, Ni, Cd and Cr on the sawscaled viper, Echis pyramidum (E. p.) and the Kenyan sand boa, Eryx colubrinus (E. c.) inhabiting Gabal El-Nagar and Kahk Qibliyyah respectively in El-Faiyum desert, Egypt. Accumulation varied significantly among the liver, kidney and muscle. The relationship between concentrations of heavy metals in snakes and those in the soil from the collected sites was established by analyzing metal DPTA in soil. Bioaccumulation factor is calculated to estimate the degree of toxicity within the tissues. Morphometric analysis was recorded. All body morphometric measurements were higher in E. p. than in E. c.. Body, liver, gonad, kidney and heart weight, HSI, GSI, RBCs count, Hb content, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, plasma glucose, total lipids and total proteins showed a significant increase in E. p. Histopathological examination showed damage and alterations of liver, kidney and testes sections. The tissues of E. c. were more destructed than those of E. p..