Immune response of greenback flounder Rhombosolea tapirina after exposure to contaminated marine sediment and diet

Non-specific immune response of greenback flounder, Rhombosolea tapirina, e xposed to contaminated marine sediments was examined. Reference sediments f rom Port Sorell and contaminated sediments from Deceitful Cove, Tasmania, A ustralia were investigated. Hatchery-reared flounder were exposed to refere nce sediment, contaminated sediment or contaminated sediment and diet for 6 weeks. Phagocytic capacity and lysozyme response in flounder were examined on cessation of exposure trial. Significant differences were found in phag ocytic capacity and lysozyme response between treatments. Exposure to conta minated sediment, irrespective of diet or benthic disturbance elicited inhi bition of phagocytic efficiency in flounder. Disturbance of contaminated se diment stimulated lysozyme activity. The immune response in flounder indica tes potential immunotoxicity of sediment from Deceitful Cove. (C) 2000 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.