F. Tenora et al., Heavy metal concentrations in tapeworms Diploposthe laevis and Microsomacanthus compressa parasitizing aquatic birds, HELMINTHOL, 38(2), 2001, pp. 63-66
Two parasite-host systems tapeworms Diploposthe laevis and h Microsomacanth
us compressa vs, final hosts aquatic birds Aythya lerina and A. nyroca were
analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry for heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Cr, Nj
) concentrations and compared with those found in muscles and liver of the
final hosts.
The ability of adult tapeworms to accumulate different concentrations was g
reater than that of their hosts' tissues. The value ratios of the heavy met
al concentration in D. laevis, (2.0-3.6) and M. compressa (2.3-22.3), respe
ctively were higher than those in their final hosts' tissues. The percentag
e proportion rank of individual heavy metals in the combined sample of stro
bilae of the above tapeworm species and in the sample of their hosts tissue
s indicates the highest proportion in Pb (40.6-57.9 %) followed by that in
Ni, Cr and Cd, except for the highest proportion of Cr in the liver of A. n
yroca, followed by successively decreasing concentrations of Pb, Ni and Cd.