Genotoxic damage in free-living Algerian mouse (Mus spretus) after the Coto Donana ecological disaster

The Donana National Park (Spain), one of the most important wildlife sites in the West of Europe, was affected (25 April 1998) by the spill of acidic waste rich in toxic metals (mainly zinc, lead, copper, etc.), arsenic and a romatic amines. from the Aznalcollar mine accident. Micronuclei test with M ay Grunwald-Giemsa and with CREST-antikinetocore staining using DAPI as cou nterstaining were performed on peripheral blood erythrocytes from Algerian mice to evaluate genotoxic damage. Animals were collected in four locations each differently affected by the disaster. Higher frequencies of micronucl ei and CREST-positive micronuclei were observed in the sites, which were re ached by toxic sludge and contaminated water in comparison with those locat ed within the park. The results obtained applying the two methods indicate that DAPI staining is more sensitive in detecting micronuclei. Genotoxic bi omonitoring should be further carried out in the area to control the mutage netic level in natural populations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.