Total mercury and fatty acids content in selected fish marketed in Quito - Ecuador. A benefit-risk assessment.

Total mercury and fatty acids contents were determined in muscles of croaker, snapper, dolphinfish, blue marlin, and shark, from different markets in the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador. Fifty-five samples were collected and analyzed for total mercury using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry, and the fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector. The lowest total mercury levels were found in snapper [0.041 µg·g-1 wet weight (ww)] while blue marlin showed the highest (5.883 µg·g-1 ww). EPA + DHA ranged from 1.0 mg·g-1 in snapper to 2.4 mg·g-1 in shark. A high omega-3/omega-6 ratio was found for all fish types; however, the HQEFA for the benefit-risk ratio was above 1, suggesting an evident risk to human health. Based on our results, consumption of croaker and dolphinfish is recommended up to one serving per week, considering the importance of EFAs intake and avoiding fish with elevated MeHg content. Therefore, Ecuadorian authorities could enhance public standards for seafood safety and develop consumer advice for pregnant women and young children to determine good fish choices or those to avoid.

A ten-year monitoring of essential and non-essential elements in the dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus from the southern Gulf of California.

The concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were measured in muscle tissue of Coryphaena hippurus captured in the southern Gulf of California to determine inter-annual variations and their relation with environmental parameters for the period 2006-2015; additionally, health risk to consumers was assessed according to levels of studied elements and rate of fish consumption in northwest Mexico. During 2014 and 2015 the levels of As, Cd, Cu, and Zn were significantly lower than the rest of the years; in the case of As, it was also significantly lower in 2010. Oceanic Niño Index was negatively correlated with Zn concentrations in fish, while sea surface temperature was negatively correlated with Zn, Pb and Cd concentrations in dolphinfish. The simultaneous occurrence of the analyzed elements in muscle of dolphinfish indicated that health effects on consumers are not likely to occur; nevertheless, fishermen with elevated fish consumption might be at risk.

Trophodynamics and mercury bioaccumulation in reef and open-ocean fishes from The Bahamas with a focus on two teleost predators.

Identifying prey resource pools supporting fish biomass can elucidate trophic pathways of pollutant bioaccumulation. We used multiple chemical tracers (carbon [δ13C] and nitrogen [δ15N] stable isotopes and total mercury [THg]) to identify trophic pathways and measure contaminant loading in upper trophic level fishes residing at a reef and open-ocean interface near Eleuthera in the Exuma Sound, The Bahamas. We focused predominantly on the trophic pathways of mercury bioaccumulation in dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus and wahoo Acanthocybium solandri, 2 commonly consumed pelagic sportfish in the region. Despite residing within close proximity to productive and extensive coral reefs, both dolphinfish and wahoo relied almost exclusively on open-ocean prey over both short and long temporal durations. A larger isotopic niche of dolphinfish suggested a broader diet and some potential prey differentiation between the 2 species. THg concentrations in dolphinfish (0.2 ± 0.1 ppm) and wahoo (0.3 ± 0.3 ppm) were mostly below recommended guidelines for humans (US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) = 0.3 ppm, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)= 1.0 ppm) and were within ranges previously reported for these species. However, high THg concentrations were observed in muscle and liver tissue of commonly consumed reef-associated fishes, identifying a previously unrecognized route of potentially toxic Hg exposure for human consumers on Eleuthera and neighboring islands.

Morphological characters and hygienic-sanitary significance of Tentacularia coryphaenae in Coryphaena hippurus from Brazil / Caracteres morfológicos e significância higiênico sanitária de Tentacularia coryphaenae em Coryphaena hippurus do Brasil

Coryphaena hippurus, or dolphinfish, is a popular species of fish pursued by sport fishing tournaments of the Yacht Club of Rio de Janeiro, wich markets then in its own fish market, because of its desirable flesh. However, the presence of helminths, including in the musculature, results in commercial losses due their repugnant appearance. The aim of this investigation was to identify taxonomically these helminthes using morphometrical and morphological data from analyses using optical and scanning electron microscopy, and to determine their hygienic-sanitary significance. Seven specimens of C. hippurus collected in January and November 2014 were necropsied and had their organs investigated. The helminths encountered included plerocercoids of Tentacularia coryphaenae, a trypanorhynch cestode. The seven specimens of C. hippurus were parasitized by a total of 204 plerocercoids, with infection sites being musculature, mesentery, stomach and liver serosa. Beyond the repugnance of these parasites, the presence of plerocercoids is worrisome because of the potential risk of allergic reactions by humans, thereby reinforcing the hygienicsanitary significance of monitoring for these parasites.(AU)

Coryphaena hippurus, ou dourado é uma espécie popular de peixe pescada em torneios de pesca esportiva do Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro, a qual é comercializada na sua própria peixaria, devido à apreciação de sua carne. Contudo a presença de helmintos, inclusive na musculatura, resulta em perdas comerciais devido ao seu aspecto repugnante. O objetivo desta investigação foi identificar taxonomicamente estes helmintos utilizando dados de análises morfométricas e morfológicas através das microscopias ótica e eletrônica de varredura e determinar sua significância higiênicosanitária. Em janeiro e novembro de 2014, sete espécimes de C. hippurus foram necropsiados e seus órgãos investigados. Os helmintos encontrados foram identificados como plerocercoides de Tentacularia coryphaenae, um cestoide Trypanorhyncha. Os sete espécimes de C. hippurus estavam parasitados por um total de 204 plerocercoides, tendo como os sítios de infecção a musculatura, mesentério, estômago e serosa do fígado. Além da repugnância destes parasitos, a presença de plerocercoides é um fator preocupante porque há o risco de reações alérgicas em humanos, por isto salienta a sua significância higiênico-sanitária no monitoramento destes parasitos.(AU)

Morphological characters and hygienic-sanitary significance of Tentacularia coryphaenae in Coryphaena hippurus from Brazil / Caracteres morfológicos e significância higiênico sanitária de Tentacularia coryphaenae em Coryphaena hippurus do Brasil

Coryphaena hippurus, or dolphinfish, is a popular species of fish pursued by sport fishing tournaments of the Yacht Club of Rio de Janeiro, wich markets then in its own fish market, because of its desirable flesh. However, the presence of helminths, including in the musculature, results in commercial losses due their repugnant appearance. The aim of this investigation was to identify taxonomically these helminthes using morphometrical and morphological data from analyses using optical and scanning electron microscopy, and to determine their hygienic-sanitary significance. Seven specimens of C. hippurus collected in January and November 2014 were necropsied and had their organs investigated. The helminths encountered included plerocercoids of Tentacularia coryphaenae, a trypanorhynch cestode. The seven specimens of C. hippurus were parasitized by a total of 204 plerocercoids, with infection sites being musculature, mesentery, stomach and liver serosa. Beyond the repugnance of these parasites, the presence of plerocercoids is worrisome because of the potential risk of allergic reactions by humans, thereby reinforcing the hygienicsanitary significance of monitoring for these parasites.

Coryphaena hippurus, ou dourado é uma espécie popular de peixe pescada em torneios de pesca esportiva do Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro, a qual é comercializada na sua própria peixaria, devido à apreciação de sua carne. Contudo a presença de helmintos, inclusive na musculatura, resulta em perdas comerciais devido ao seu aspecto repugnante. O objetivo desta investigação foi identificar taxonomicamente estes helmintos utilizando dados de análises morfométricas e morfológicas através das microscopias ótica e eletrônica de varredura e determinar sua significância higiênicosanitária. Em janeiro e novembro de 2014, sete espécimes de C. hippurus foram necropsiados e seus órgãos investigados. Os helmintos encontrados foram identificados como plerocercoides de Tentacularia coryphaenae, um cestoide Trypanorhyncha. Os sete espécimes de C. hippurus estavam parasitados por um total de 204 plerocercoides, tendo como os sítios de infecção a musculatura, mesentério, estômago e serosa do fígado. Além da repugnância destes parasitos, a presença de plerocercoides é um fator preocupante porque há o risco de reações alérgicas em humanos, por isto salienta a sua significância higiênico-sanitária no monitoramento destes parasitos.

Variabilidad en la abundancia relativa, estructura por tallas y proporción de sexos del dorado Coryphaena hippurus (Pisces: Coryphaenidae) en el Golfo de Tehuantepec, México / Variability in the relative abundance, size structure and sex ratio of the dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus (Pisces: Coryphaenidae) in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, México

The dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), is an oceanic epipelagic fish found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters, with a high dispersal capability via large-scale migrations. This fast-swimming top-level predator is abundant in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, where it is caught incidentally by artisanal fisheries, and represents a target species for both recreational and commercial fisheries in Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Central America. Nowadays, local fishery information on this species is scarce, thus our objective was to analyze the size structure by sex and the catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) tendency of dolphinfish caught in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, from 2000 to 2007. For this, fishery catches information was obtained from the artisanal fleet, at six landing sites in the Gulf, and the sex ratio, fork length (FL) and the catch per unit effort (CPUE) were estimated. From all sampling sites, a total of 3 494 females, and 3 877 males were obtained, and dolphinfish size as fork length (FL) ranged from 20.5 to 152cm. Fish size ranged from 25.5 to 148cm furcal length (FL) in males, and 20.5 to 129cm FL in females. The sex ratio (males:females) was 1:1, except in April-May (1:1.5, p<0.05) and November (1:0.5, p<0.05). The sex ratio at different size classes showed a significant bias towards females at smaller sizes (<75cm FL), whereas the males were predominant in larger size classes (>100cm FL). The size structure was bimodal, with a variation in the size average; the modes were defined as the small group (FL=50-55cm) and the large size group (FL=100-110cm). The CPUE showed seasonal changes: values were high for the November-December period, and values were lower for July-August. The seasonal and inter annual variation in the abundance of dolphinfish is probably related to a pre-spawning migration in close relation to the rain-drought regime characteristic of the region, and the associated wind upwelling season of “Tehuanos” in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (2): 611-626. Epub 2014 June 01.

El dorado Coryphaena hippurus es un depredador oceánico epipelágico que se distribuye en aguas tropicales y subtropicales de todos los océanos. Son peces con alta capacidad de dispersión por su migración a gran escala. El Golfo de Tehuantepec es una de las áreas de mayor abundancia de C. hippurus, donde se registran capturas incidentales en la pesca artesanal y sostiene pesquerías recreacionales y comerciales de pequeña escala en México, Ecuador, Perú y Centroamérica. Aquí se analizan los cambios inter-anuales en la estructura de tallas por sexo del dorado durante 2000-2007, así como la tendencia de la captura por unidad de esfuerzo (CPUE) de dorado efectuada por la flota ribereña. Los resultados están basados en 3 494 hembras y 3 877 machos capturados por pesca artesanal en 6 localidades del Pacífico Sur provenientes de muestreos mensuales. Se estimó la CPUE a partir del número de organismos capturados por viaje de pesca. Los machos pre- sentaron tallas entre 25.5 a 148cm de longitud furcal (Lf), mientras que en hembras las tallas registradas fueron de 20.5 a 129cm Lf. La proporción de sexos mostró patrones estacionales a lo largo del año y diferencias con respecto de Lf, a tallas pequeñas predominaron las hembras (<75cm FL) y a tallas grandes los machos (>100cm Lf). La estructura de Lf mostró una tendencia bimodal, con una variación en la Lf promedio de 2000 a 2007; las modas estuvieron definidas como el grupo de tamaño pequeño (Lf=50-55cm) y el grupo de tamaño grande (Lf=100 a 110cm). La CPUE tuvo cambios estacionales: los periodos más altos se registraron en noviembre-diciembre y mayo; los más bajos en julio-agosto. La variación estacional e interanual en la abundancia del dorado probablemente se encuentre relacionada con una migración pre desove, en estrecha relación con el régimen lluvias-estiaje característico de la región, y la temporada de surgencias eólicas asociadas a la temporada de “Tehuanos” en el Golfo de Tehuantepec.