Erythrocyte micronucleus cytome assay of 17 wild bird species from the central Monte desert, Argentina

QUERO A. M. A.; FERRÉ D. M.; ZARCO A.; CUERVO P. F.; GORLA N. B. M.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2016 vol. 23 p. 25224 - 25231

0944-1344

Birds have the potential to be considered as valuable bioindicators of the quality of ecosystems and theenvironmental impact of pollutants. The aim of this study was to determine the micronuclei frequencyand other nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes by analyzing a wild bird community from central Montedesert (Argentina), and to clarify if there were any differences among certain species. Frequencies ofnuclear abnormalities were determined in 73 wild birds belonging to 17 species and two orders(Passeriformes and Columbiformes). A high proportion of individuals, 90.4 and 80.9%, had erythrocyteswith micronuclei and nuclear buds, respectively. Notched nuclei, binucleated cells, nuclear tails andnucleoplasmic bridges were also recorded. Certain species appeared to be more informative than otherswith regards to the possibility of being used as bioindicators of genetic damage. Saltator aurantiirostrisand Columbina picui were the only species that showed significantly different frequencies of nuclearalterations, in comparison with the other species. The frequencies here presented are the first reported forthese bird species from the order Passeriformes and Columbiformes. This research supports the notionthat the use of these biomarkers could be effectively applied to evaluate spontaneous or induced geneticinstability in wild birds.