Comparison between lead accumulation of Pomphorhynchus laevis (Palaeacanthocephala) in the intestine of chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and in the body cavity of goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus)

This experimental study assessed the role of the microhabitat in the uptake of metals by adult acanthocephalans. We examined the accumulation of lead by adult Pomphorhynchus laevis in the intestine of chub (Leuciscus cephalus ) and compared it with that in goldfish, Carassius auratus auratus, in whic h the parasites penetrate the intestinal wall and enter the body cavity. Ch ub and goldfish experimentally infected with adult Pomphorhynchus laevis we re exposed to 0.01 mg l(-1) Pb2+ over 3 weeks. Lead was rapidly accumulated in the intestinal acanthocephalans reaching a mean concentration of 7.3 mu g g(-1). This concentration was significantly greater than in the host musc le, liver and intestine and more than 730 times higher than the exposure co ncentration. Intraperitoneal P. laevis in goldfish exposed to lead did not accumulate the metal. Thus, it was conclusively shown that metal accumulati on in acanthocephalans is associated with the intestinal location and does not occur in the body cavity. (C) 2001 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.