A protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND:Biomarkers have been used extensively to provide the connection between external levels of contaminant exposure, internal levels of tissue contamination, and early adverse effects in organisms. OBJECTIVES:To present a three-step protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish...

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Main Authors: Frederieke Kroon, Claire Streten, Simon Harries
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5389625?pdf=render
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author Frederieke Kroon
Claire Streten
Simon Harries
author_facet Frederieke Kroon
Claire Streten
Simon Harries
author_sort Frederieke Kroon
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND:Biomarkers have been used extensively to provide the connection between external levels of contaminant exposure, internal levels of tissue contamination, and early adverse effects in organisms. OBJECTIVES:To present a three-step protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health in coastal and marine ecosystems, using Gladstone Harbour (Australia) as a case study. METHODS:Prior to applying our protocol, clear working definitions for biomarkers were developed to ensure consistency with the global literature on fish health assessment. First, contaminants of concern were identified based on the presence of point and diffuse sources of pollution and available monitoring data for the ecosystem of interest. Second, suitable fish species were identified using fisheries dependent and independent data, and prioritised based on potential pathways of exposure to the contaminants of concern. Finally, a systematic and critical literature review was conducted on the use of biomarkers to assess the health of fish exposed to the contaminants of concern. RESULTS/DISCUSSION:We present clear working definitions for bioaccumulation markers, biomarkers of exposure, biomarkers of effect and biomarkers of susceptibility. Based on emission and concentration information, seven metals were identified as contaminants of concern for Gladstone Harbour. Twenty out of 232 fish species were abundant enough to be potentially suitable for biomarker studies; five of these were prioritised based on potential pathways of exposure and susceptibility to metals. The literature search on biomarkers yielded 5,035 articles, of which 151met the inclusion criteria. Based on our review, the most suitable biomarkers include bioaccumulation markers, biomarkers of exposure (CYP1A, EROD, SOD, LPOX, HSP, MT, DNA strand breaks, micronuclei, apoptosis), and biomarkers of effect (histopathology, TAG:ST). CONCLUSION:Our protocol outlines a clear pathway to identify suitable biomarkers to assess fish health in coastal and marine ecosystems, which can be applied to biomarker studies in aquatic ecosystems around the world.
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spelling doaj.art-c7e961b5aef445fa94e0e87e76094c4a2022-12-22T01:12:37ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01124e017476210.1371/journal.pone.0174762A protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health: A systematic review.Frederieke KroonClaire StretenSimon HarriesBACKGROUND:Biomarkers have been used extensively to provide the connection between external levels of contaminant exposure, internal levels of tissue contamination, and early adverse effects in organisms. OBJECTIVES:To present a three-step protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health in coastal and marine ecosystems, using Gladstone Harbour (Australia) as a case study. METHODS:Prior to applying our protocol, clear working definitions for biomarkers were developed to ensure consistency with the global literature on fish health assessment. First, contaminants of concern were identified based on the presence of point and diffuse sources of pollution and available monitoring data for the ecosystem of interest. Second, suitable fish species were identified using fisheries dependent and independent data, and prioritised based on potential pathways of exposure to the contaminants of concern. Finally, a systematic and critical literature review was conducted on the use of biomarkers to assess the health of fish exposed to the contaminants of concern. RESULTS/DISCUSSION:We present clear working definitions for bioaccumulation markers, biomarkers of exposure, biomarkers of effect and biomarkers of susceptibility. Based on emission and concentration information, seven metals were identified as contaminants of concern for Gladstone Harbour. Twenty out of 232 fish species were abundant enough to be potentially suitable for biomarker studies; five of these were prioritised based on potential pathways of exposure and susceptibility to metals. The literature search on biomarkers yielded 5,035 articles, of which 151met the inclusion criteria. Based on our review, the most suitable biomarkers include bioaccumulation markers, biomarkers of exposure (CYP1A, EROD, SOD, LPOX, HSP, MT, DNA strand breaks, micronuclei, apoptosis), and biomarkers of effect (histopathology, TAG:ST). CONCLUSION:Our protocol outlines a clear pathway to identify suitable biomarkers to assess fish health in coastal and marine ecosystems, which can be applied to biomarker studies in aquatic ecosystems around the world.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5389625?pdf=render
spellingShingle Frederieke Kroon
Claire Streten
Simon Harries
A protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health: A systematic review.
PLoS ONE
title A protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health: A systematic review.
title_full A protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health: A systematic review.
title_fullStr A protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health: A systematic review.
title_full_unstemmed A protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health: A systematic review.
title_short A protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health: A systematic review.
title_sort protocol for identifying suitable biomarkers to assess fish health a systematic review
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5389625?pdf=render
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