In this study, seven non‐specific biomarkers were compared in Spottail Shiners (Notropis hudsonius Clinton) from localities receiving urban and industrial effluents and relatively clean localities in the St Lawrence River, Canada. Pigmented macrophages are involved in a variety of functions including the detoxification and recycling of exogenous and endogenous material, responses to foreign material or infectious agents, and antigen recognition. Pigmented macrophage aggregates are focal accumulations of pigmented macrophages found in the spleen, kidney, liver and other organs of fishes. They may respond to toxicants or exposure to infectious agents such as viruses or bacteria either by increasing in number and size or by changing the shape of the aggregation. It was hypothesized that differences would be seen in these biomarkers in fish from polluted localities compared to fish from relatively cleaner ones and these changes would be more pronounced in heavily infected fish.
Supplemental Information
The St. Lawrence Action Plan (SLAP) 2011 to 2026 (see http://planstlaurent.qc.ca/en/home.html) is the latest Canada-Quebec Agreement on the St. Lawrence and builds on the four previous agreements implemented since 1988.
The agreement aims to conserve and enhance the St. Lawrence. It is based on strong collaboration and the pooling of resources and expertise between the governments of Canada and Quebec. As part of their respective responsibilities for the management of the St. Lawrence basin, these two governments recognize the need for close cooperation to tackle the environmental challenges facing this important ecosystem. Other partners are also joining in this initiative, including local organizations, environmental groups, research centres, and universities.
For more information on SLAP, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-funding/ecosystem-initiatives/st-lawrence-action-plan.html