Trace metal accumulation is infrapopulation-dependent in acanthocephalans parasites of the white mullet (Mugil curema) from an estuarine environment of southeastern Brazil coast

Here, in an estuarine canal in southeast Brazil, we evaluated the potential for trace metal accumulation of the acanthocephalan parasite Floridosentis mugilis, which infects the fish host Mugil curema. The quantities of the trace metals were quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), which was used to analyze samples of the fish's muscle, intestine, and liver as well as the parasites. The parasites and the host's tissues had significantly different trace metal concentrations, according to our data. Furthermore, some metals have quite high bioconcentration factors, including Al, Cr, Ni, and Cd. We also found that the trace metal concentrations in the parasites were impacted by the sizes of the parasitic infrapopulations, with smaller infrapopulations tending to accumulate more metals. This study shows this acanthocephalan species' effective ability to store metals and is the first to investigate metal accumulation using it as a model.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the potential for trace metal accumulation of the acanthocephalan parasite Floridosentis mugilis, which infects the fish host Mugil curema, in an estuarine canal in southeast Brazil. The study found significantly different trace metal concentrations between the parasites and the host's tissues, with some metals showing high bioconcentration factors. The size of the parasitic infrapopulations also influenced the trace metal concentrations in the parasites.