ABSTRACT
Aquatic ecosystems around the world face serious threats from anthropogenic contaminants. Results from 8 years of field and laboratory investigations indicate that sublethal contaminant exposure is occurring in the early life stages of striped bass in the San Francisco Estuary, a population in continual decline since its initial collapse during the 1970s. Biologically significant levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and current-use/legacy pesticides were found in all egg samples from river-collected fish. Developmental changes previously unseen with standard methods were detected with a technique using the principles of unbiased stereology. Abnormal yolk utilization, brain and liver development, and overall growth were observed in larvae from river-collected fish. Histopathological analyses confirmed and identified developmental alterations. Using this methodology enabled us to present a conclusive line of evidence for the maternal transfer of xenobiotics and their adverse effects on larval striped bass in this estuary.
Subject(s)
Bass/growth & development , Larva/drug effects , Water Pollutants/toxicity , Xenobiotics/toxicity , Animals , Female , Fisheries , Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers/toxicity , Larva/growth & development , Male , Oceans and Seas , Ovum/drug effects , Pesticides/toxicity , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/toxicity , Rivers , San Francisco , Yolk Sac/drug effectsABSTRACT
Capnocytophaga cynodegmi is a zoonotic, gram-negative, capnophilic bacterium that is usually seen in people with infections associated with dog or cat bites. The first reported case of C. cynodegmi infection in a dog is described here.
