Redox-active metals and oxidative stress-mediated myopathies in Callinectes amnicola, blue crab populations from impacted sites of the Lagos Lagoon: inferences for adverse ecological outcomes

While oxidative stress pathways are associated with a wide variety of tissue pathologies, its applications for evaluating and discerning ecological risks are limited. This study seeks to associate trends of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress to risks of muscle pathologies in blue crabs inhabiting regions of the Lagos Lagoon. Crab samples (n = 520) were selected from pollution-impacted sites of the lagoon at Iddo, Ajah, Okobaba, Makoko, and the mid-lagoon area (control site). Antioxidant enzyme capacity, i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S-transferase, and lipid peroxidation were evaluated in the muscle tissue of the blue crabs. The study findings showed distinct patterns of metal uptake in muscle, with redox-active metals (Cu and Zn) and redox-inactive metals (Pb and Cd) exhibiting site-specific differences. Additionally, there were changes in antioxidant modulation, lipid peroxidation, and the presence of associated myopathies. Blue crabs from sites (Makoko and Ajah) with greater uptake of redox-active metals (Cu and Zn) in muscle tissue showed higher trends of lipid peroxidation and the most prevalence of severe regression-type myopathies. Sites with lower uptake of redox-active metals showed the predominance of circulatory-type myopathies. This study also provides evidence of severe necrosis and myositis associated with digenean parasite cysts in crab muscle. Pathological evidence of severe skeletal muscle deterioration in the presence of greater lipid peroxidation could have implications for motor-neuron activity and reduced force-generating capacity necessary for adaptive responses in the wild. We conclude that elevated uptake of redox metals could aggravate the onset of myopathies in wild populations.

Automated summary

This study investigates the association between muscle pathologies and oxidative stress in blue crabs. The findings show that the uptake of redox-active metals in muscle tissue is related to lipid peroxidation and the prevalence of myopathies. The study also identifies severe skeletal muscle deterioration associated with parasite cysts.