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Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) are used intensively. Thanks to their extremely small size (1–100 nm), TiO2-NPs are more absorbable by living organisms; consequently, they can cross the circulatory system and then be distributed in various organs including the reproductive organs. We have evaluated the possible toxic effect of TiO2-NPs on embryonic development and the male reproductive system using Danio rerio as an organism model. TiO2-NPs (P25, Degussa) were tested at concentrations of 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L, and 4 mg/L. TiO2-NPs did not interfere with the embryonic development of Danio rerio, however, in the male gonads the TiO2-NPs caused an alteration of the morphological/structural organization. The immunofluorescence investigation showed positivity for biomarkers of oxidative stress and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), both confirmed by the results of qRT-PCR. In addition, an increased expression of the gene responsible for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone was found. Since Leydig cells are mainly involved in this activity, an increase in gene activity can be explained by the ability of TiO2-NPs to act as endocrine disruptors, and, therefore, with androgenic activity.

Recently, there has been a worrying increase in the pollution of the aquatic ecosystem caused by emerging contaminants (ECs) detected in wastewater effluent discharges. Although traces of ECs in waters have been found in low concentrations, it leads to negative effects for nontarget organisms. Antihistamines are a class of drugs largely used, whose metabolites are widespread in the aquatic ecosystem. The aim of the study was to evaluate the short-term effects of promethazine hydrochloride on nauplii of

This study investigated the phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of fruit extracts of

We studied the activity of recombinant goat PRP14 (gPRP14), a member of the RID protein family, as a xeno-antigen in preclinical models of cancer. Antisera from rabbits and mice immunized with gPRP14 showed strong reactivity against several tumor cell types, which was absent towards normal cells: the tumor selectivity was related to surface and intra-cellular expression in tumor cells, and to an exclusively intra-cellular localization in normal cells. In vitro, binding to tumor cells was followed by cytotoxicity which could be rescued by the addition of excess soluble antigen. In vivo, an anti-tumor activity of immunization with gPRP14 was observed in murine syngeneic models of breast cancer and melanoma: the anti-tumor response was present when gPRP14 was administered in a preventive setting, and persisted upon repeated challenges with tumor cells in long-term survivor mice. Finally, we showed that both the humoral and T-cell mediated responses are needed for the optimal anti-tumor effect in the murine melanoma model. Thus, we have performed an initial characterization of gPRP14 as a cancer vaccine, which -given the potential wide range of tumor cells positive for the antigen-appears as a promising, novel immunotherapy.

Novel foods, such as edible insects and food products on the basis of insects, could play an important role in both human and animal nutrition in the future. The identification of dangers associated with insect consumption is fundamental to guarantee consumer safety and adequate regulatory guidelines for operators of the food sector. Although former studies have focused on the microbiological contamination of fresh or processed edible insects, so far little information is available about the occurrence of foodborne parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, whose life cycles make them candidates for potential insect breeding substrate contamination. Hence, we investigated the presence of contaminating T. gondii in farmed edible insects to rule out this further hazard for consumers. Four species of insects most commonly used as food for human consumption were analyzed: mealworm; African migratory locust, house cricket, and silkworm. Samples included live specimens but also minimally (dehydrated) and highly processed edible insects. Traces of T. gondii DNA were detected in samples of dehydrated mealworm. These results highlight the need for implementing good farming and processing practices with particular care paid to safe storage and handling of feed and substrates used for edible insects to reduce the chance of T. gondii entering the human food chain. HIGHLIGHTS

5G technology is evolving to satisfy several service requirements favoring high data-rate connections and lower latency times than current ones (< 1ms). 5G systems use different frequency bands of the radio wave spectrum, taking advantage of higher frequencies than previous mobile radio generations. In order to guarantee a capillary coverage of the territory for high reliability applications, it will be necessary to install a large number of repeaters because higher frequencies waves have a lower capacity to propagate in free space. Following the introduction of this new technology, there has been a growing concern about possible harmful effects on human health. The aim of this study is investigating possible short term effects induced by 5G-millimeter waves on embryonic development of Danio rerio. We have exposed fertilized eggs to 27 GHz frequency, 9.7 mW/cm2 incident power density, 23 dbm and have measured several endpoints every 24 hours. The exposure to electromagnetic fields at 27 GHz (5G) caused no significant impacts on mortality nor on morphology because the exposed larvae showed a normal detachment of the tail, presence of heart-beat and well-organised somites. A weak positivity on exposed larvae has been highlighted by immunohistochemical analysis.

5G technology is evolving to satisfy several service requirements favoring high data-rate connections and lower latency times than current ones (< 1ms). 5G systems use different frequency bands of the radio wave spectrum, taking advantage of higher frequencies than previous mobile radio generations. In order to guarantee a capillary coverage of the territory for high reliability applications, it will be necessary to install a large number of repeaters because higher frequencies waves have a lower capacity to propagate in free space. Following the introduction of this new technology, there has been a growing concern about possible harmful effects on human health. The aim of this study is investigating possible short term effects induced by 5G-millimeter waves on embryonic development of Danio rerio. We have exposed fertilized eggs to 27 GHz frequency, 9.7 mW/cm2 incident power density, 23 dbm and have measured several endpoints every 24 hours. The exposure to electromagnetic fields at 27 GHz (5G) caused no significant impacts on mortality nor on morphology because the exposed larvae showed a normal detachment of the tail, presence of heart-beat and well-organised somites. A weak positivity on exposed larvae has been highlighted by immunohistochemical analysis.

Recently, a rising use of wireless internet technologies has been demonstrated. The devices which use these technologies emit a considerable amount of electromagnetic radiation (EMFs) which could interact with the male reproductive system. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro influence of electromagnetic fields a 27 GHz on sperm quality in Mytilus galloprovincialis. The experiments were conducted with a no commercial high gain pyramidal horn antenna. Sperm samples, taken from sexually mature males of M. galloprovincialis, were placed in seawater. Once evaluated the number and quality of spermatozoa, sperm cells were exposed to electromagnetic fields. The effect of exposure was evaluated after 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes with light microscope and using Eosin test. All the samples were performed in triplicate and statistical analysis was carried out by one-way ANOVA test. A significative decrease (30%) in sperm motility was ob-served after 10 minutes of exposure and after 30 minutes all sperms were immobile and not vital. The measurement of the Oxidation Reduction Potential (sORP), which evaluates the oxidative damage on spermatozoa, shows how the exposure to 27 GHz has increased the oxidant amount compared to the control groups. This study provides useful data on potential ecological impact of the EMFs on aquatic animals, that currently are poor investigated.

This study investigated the phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of fruit extracts of Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw.(OD) and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.(OFI), yellow (F1) and red (F2) varieties. In order to evaluate the antioxidant activity of these extracts on human sperm quality after thawing, the semen parameters (vitality, motility, acrosome reaction, oxidative stress, and DNA fragmentation) were analysed after 1 h of exposure. The results showed that OD has higher phenolic content and antioxidant power than OFI, and that they are higher in F2 than F1. Furthermore, regarding the activity of extracts on thawed sperm, the results showed a significant increase in motility in samples treated with OFI F1 and OD extracts, while an improvement in vitality and acrosome reaction and a reduction of DNA fragmentation were observed in all exposed samples compared to the control. Finally, a reduction of oxidative stress was observed in samples exposed to OFI F2 and OD than control.

Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies determination and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) forThe present research highlighted significant differences among infected and uninfected swine (control group) for both transcription profiles of some of the molecular factors considered and 17-β estradiol concentrations. Referring to the assessed hematological and biochemical parameters, no statistically significant differences were observed in infected swine compared to the control group.Our results contribute to the enrichment of data available about the subject and could be useful for a deeper knowledge of the interaction between this parasite and its hosts. However, more aspects are still unclear, such as the effective response of downstream molecules from the same pathways to the variation of factors observed in this study either assessing how the same factors respond to

In order to drive effective public health preventive measures for human toxoplasmosis a scrupulous epidemiological monitoring of animal toxoplasmosis is essential. BACKGROUND AND AIM:T. gondii is the fourth most important parasite in the world and second out of 14 foodborne pathogens in the USA and in Europe. Meat-borne transmission of T. gondii causes most of food-borne infections in Europe (EFSA-European Food Safety Authority). SINZOO is part of the Veterinary Informative System of the Italian Ministry of Health. It collects and transmit data to EFSA, published in the annual EFSA/ECDC summary reports on zoonoses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of SINZOO for epidemiological surveillance of toxoplasmosis in Italy. METHODS:Among animal species tested in Italy between 2015 and 2019 the ones most commonly reared for human consumption (sheep, cattle, pig, goats) were selected, moreover wild boars, wild ruminants, cats. RESULTS:Infection rates ranged from 0.73% in wild boars to 45.72% in sheep. Total number of tested animals ranged from 37 pigs in 2015 to 3449 sheep in 2018. Besides a relevant incidence among wild boars in 2018 (45%) and 2019 (32%), higher infection rates were more often reported among sheep and pigs. Between 2018 and 2019 67% of the overall analyses were carried out in one region (Sardinia), mostly on one species (sheep) and emerged from targeted research or clinical investigation. In fact in 2019 83.45% of analyses were performed following clinical suspicions while only 8.43% came from official controls, highlighting toxoplasmosis underestimation by the national veterinary health system. CONCLUSIONS:Despite EFSA recognizes the relevance of toxoplasmosis, this is not included among zoonoses under mandatory notification, making animal epidemiological surveillance rather scarce and uneven. Data reported to SINZOO suggest that T. gondii is still a relevant hazard to monitor by meat inspection and in-farm survey, for effective epidemiological evaluations and appropriate public health interventions. This issue characterizes Italy and Europe, highlighting that toxoplasmosis monitoring should be made mandatory and with uniform rules., {"references":["Almeria S., Dubey J.P., 2021. Foodborne transmission of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the last decade. An overview. Res Vet Sci. 135:371-385.","Batz, M.Bet al., 2012. Ranking the disease burden of 14 pathogens in food sources in the United States using attribution data from outbreak investigations and expert elicitation. J. Food Prot. 75, 1278–1291.","FAO/WHO [Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization], 2014. Multicriteria-based ranking for risk management of food-borne parasites. In: Microbiological Risk Assessment Series No. 23. Rome."]}

Opuntia sp. contain antioxidant phytochemicals resistant to ROS damage, whose excess negatively affect fertilization. We investigate the activity of fruit extracts of O. dillenii and O. ficus indica (cv red and yellow) on sperm quality and cryopreservation. In the first experiment, we exposed the samples to extracts (50 µl) for 1 hour to then evaluate semen parameters (vitality, motility, acrosome reaction, DNA fragmentation and oxidative stress). The results showed a significant increase in the motility (86%±0.19 for OFI cv yellow, 82%±0.15 for OFI cv red and 90%±0.08 for O. dillenii) compared to the control (80%±0.17). Moreover, we noted a reduction of DNA fragmentation on treated (3%±0.03 in OFI cv yellow, 7%±0.09 in OFI cv red and 5%±0.07 in O. dillenii) than the control (40%±0.14). Furthermore, the oxidative stress was reduced after exposure to solutions (3.15mV in the control and 2.94mV in the treated). In the second experiment, 50 µl of solutions were added to the Freezing medium. After thawing, we observed an improvement in vitality and the number of intact acrosomes. Our results suggest that Opuntia sp. fruit extracts improve sperm quality, both before and after cryopreservation, optimizing the potential of fertilization of sperm cells.

The issue of whether market fish can be involved in the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in the marine environment is highly debated since toxoplasmosis has been diagnosed frequently in cetaceans stranded along the Mediterranean coastlines in recent times. To support the hypothesis that fishes can harbour and effectively transmit the parasite to top‐of‐the‐food‐chain marine organisms and to human consumers of fishery products, a total of 1,293 fishes from 17 species obtained from wholesale and local fish markets were examined for T. gondii DNA. Real‐time PCR was performed in samples obtained by separately pooling intestines, gills and skin/muscles collected from each fish species. Thirty‐two out of 147 pooled samples from 12 different fish species were found contaminated with T. gondii DNA that was detected in 16 samples of skin/muscle and in 11 samples of both intestine and gills. Quantitative analysis of amplified DNA performed by both real‐time PCR and digital PCR (dPCR) confirmed that positive fish samples were contaminated with Toxoplasma genomic DNA to an extent of 6.10 × 10−2 to 2.77 × 104 copies/ml (quantitative PCR) and of 1 to 5.7 × 104 copies/ml (dPCR). Fishes are not considered competent biological hosts for T. gondii; nonetheless, they can be contaminated with T. gondii oocysts flowing via freshwater run‐offs (untreated sewage discharges, soil flooding) into the marine environment, thus acting as mechanical carriers. Although the detection of viable and infective T. gondii oocysts was not the objective of this investigation, the results here reported suggest that fish species sold for human consumption can be accidentally involved in the transmission route of the parasite in the marine environment and that the risk of foodborne transmission of toxoplasmosis to fish consumers should be further investigated.

Although in recent years there has been intensification in the use of nanoparticles (NPs) for the production of many commercial products, few studies have been carried out to assess the risks associated with its use. Among the most used NPs, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have a preponderant position as they have various applications. In this study, 40 adult zebrafish were exposed to increasing concentrations of AgNPs (8, 45, and 70 mu g/L) for 30 days to evaluate the effects on eyes after chronic exposure to AgNPs with an average diameter of 50 nm. From the morphological and ultrastructural analysis performed, no alteration or lesions of the corneal epithelium were detected.

The focus of this work was to investigate the toxicity of different metal nanoparticles (gold nanoparticles [AuNPs], silver nanoparticles [AgNPs], titanium dioxide nanoparticles [TiO2 NPs]) on brine shrimp Artemia salina. We investigated if nanoparticles could have an influence on hatching of cysts and on mortality of larvae. Larvae (also called nauplii) and cysts were exposed to NPs for 24 hr in artificial seawater on microplates. At the end of the test, we assessed the endpoint (immobility/death) for the larvae by a stereomicroscope. Nauplii that appeared completely motionless, were counted as dead, and the percentages of mortality were calculated for each treatment. Instead for the cysts, the percentages of not-hatched nauplii for each concentration considered were calculated by counting the number of whole cysts. Currently, nanoparticles toxicity has been investigated in several research; in our study we highlighted the nontoxicity of TiO2 NPs on A. salina nauplii as shown by low percentages of immobilization and on cysts because TiO2 NPs do not affect their hatching. Despite AuNPs exerted toxic effects on hatching, they did not affect larvae development as well as TiO2 NPs. Otherwise, AgNPs induced mortality of the larvae and inhibited cysts hatching.

Recently two-dimensional nanomaterials, such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), have received much attention as adsorbent materials for the effective removal of organic contaminants. MoS2 is attracting attention, not only for its chemical-physical properties, but also for its wide availability in nature as a constituent of molybdenite. The aim of this investigation was to assess the effects of different MoS2 concentrations (5 × 10−1, 5 × 10−2 and 5 × 10−3 mg/ml) on the embryonated eggs of Gallus gallus domesticus, according to Beck method. We evaluated the toxic effect of the MoS2 powder purchased at Sigma-Aldrich indicated as “received” and MoS2 powder treated via mechanical milling indicated as “ball mille”. Subsequently, the embryos were sacrificed at different times of embryonic development (11th, 15th and 19th day after incubation) in order to evaluate their embryotoxic and teratogenic effects. The alterations of the embryonic development were studied by morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of the tissues. The results obtained have shown the toxicity of both powders of MoS2 with a high percentage of deaths and growth delays. Moreover, the immunohistochemical analysis performed on several tissue sections showed a strong positivity to the anti-metallothionein1 antibody only for the erythrocytes.

Organophosphates are a large class of chemicals with anticholinesterase action insecticides. Dimethoate belongs to the class of organophosphates and it is used for agriculture purpose. Its main toxicological role in animals and humans is the inhibition of the activity of acetylcholinesterase. Although it is not considered genotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogen, there is evidence of increased pup mortality in developmental neurotoxicity studies. Since there is scant published literature about developmental toxicity, we investigated the adverse effects of dimethoate on fertilization and embryonic development in sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus), a model organism widely used to assess the toxicity of contaminants on environmental matrices; so pesticide residues can be released into the environment, and could affect the health of organisms, including humans. Different solution of dimethoate (4 × 10−3, 4 × 10−4, 4 × 10−5, 4 × 10−6 and 4 × 10−7 g/10 ml) have been tested on spermatozoa of P. lividus to evaluate the fertilizing ability of them when we added egg cells untreated. We demonstrated that dimethoate does not interfere with fertilizing ability of spermatozoa but egg cells fertilized by treated spermatozoa showed alterations in the segmentation planes as asymmetric and/or asynchronous cell divisions.

In this article, we report for the first time the presence of the parasite Hepatoxylon trichiuri in specimens of Lepidopus caudatus from the Mediterranean Sea. A total of four plerocercoids were studied using microscopy techniques for both morphological and histological analysis. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: We report for the first time for the Mediterranean Sea the presence of the parasite Hepatoxylon trichiuri in specimens of the commercial fish species Lepidopus caudatus. The plerocercoids of H. trichiuri not seems cause observable illness in the fish. However, further studies are needed in order to better assess the incidence and prevalence of the parasite in L. caudatus and other fish species of commercial interest.

Thiacloprid is an insecticide belonging to the family of neonicotinoids, substances initially underestimated for their potential adverse effects, that they may manifest in the long term leading to an extensive use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect at increasing concentrations of thiacloprid on chick embryos development. The research was carried out on 75 fertile eggs of Gallus gallus domesticus. The eggs were opened after 10, 15 and 20 days of incubation and in treated embryos were observed developmental alterations, growth retardation, limbs defects and ectopia viscerale. The histological analysis showed hepatic steatosis and haemorrhages both in the liver and in the lungs. Moreover, the immunohistochemical analysis performed on the liver sections showed a strong positivity only for the erythrocytes to the anti-CYP1A antibody. Thiacloprid exposure increases the risks of teratogenic effects especially at the higher doses tested, therefore its use should be more controlled and limited. Since the literature on the topic is lacking, then the human health impacts resulting from neonicotinoids exposure is not yet fully understood, and, our data will be helpful to allow the assessment of an oral reference dose and health risk characterization.

Invertebrates are precious organisms in order to study environmental pollution. In particular, they appear to be suitable as a bioindicator species for pioneer ecotoxicity studies on new xenobiotics such as nanoparticles. In fact, they are able to absorb nanomaterials scattered in the environment in different ways and it's known the compartmentalization of nano-sized contaminants in selected tissues and intracellular organelles. Titanium dioxide represents the most used nanoparticulate, destined to become probably ubiquitous in the environment. Recently, some research has been published on the toxic potential of nano-TiO

In recent years, the Mediterranean Sea has become an accumulation zone for waste generated by the 22 countries bordering its shores. Although the effects of plastic litter on the marine environment and on organisms have recently been studied in other areas, further information is needed for the Mediterranean Sea and, in particular, about plastics additives inputs and interactions with the biota and the trophic network, such as phthalates and bisphenol A. Plastic material production, use and disposal contribute also to the release of heavy metals into the environment, such as mercury (Hg), often used during the production of chlorine, the primary ingredient in PVC, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), which are used as stabilizers in PVC and leach out of products during use and disposal. Our research aims to evaluate phthalates, bisphenol A and heavy metals contamination in Lepidopus caudatus (Pisces, Trichiuridae), which could be considered as a potential sentinel species. For the evaluation of toxicological effects, we evaluated the expression of vitellogenin and metallothioneins 1. In all samples analyzed, we have not found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract but chemical analysis revealed the presence of high content of phthalates, and in particular high quantities of DIDP, DEHP, bis-benzylester phthalate, bis-butyl ester phthalate and mono-N-butyl ester phthalate in different organs. Instead, trace elements detected in tissue revealed a trend of concentrations generally higher in liver and intestine than gill and muscle tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis for anti-metallothionein 1 antibody showed a strong positivity of liver cells, both in females and males. Analysis for the anti-vitellogenin antibody showed in females a strong positivity both in the liver cells and in the gonads, in male specimens was found to be always negative except for a specimen, in which it was highlighted a positivity in some areas of the liver and of the gonad.

Iron toxicity is associated with organ injury and has been reported in various clinical conditions, such as hemochromatosis, thalassemia major, and myelodysplastic syndromes. Therefore, iron chelation therapy represents a pivotal therapy for these patients during their lifetime. The aim of the present study was to assess the iron chelating properties of &alpha, lipoic acid (ALA) and how such an effect impacts on iron overload mediated toxicity. Human mesenchymal stem cells (HS-5) and animals (zebrafish, n = 10 for each group) were treated for 24 h with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC, 120 &micro, g/mL) in the presence or absence of ALA (20 &micro, g/mL). Oxidative stress was evaluated by reduced glutathione content, reactive oxygen species formation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and gene expression of heme oxygenase-1b and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase, organ injury, iron accumulation, and autophagy were measured by microscopical, cytofluorimetric analyses, and inductively coupled plasma‒optical mission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Our results showed that FAC results in a significant increase of tissue iron accumulation, oxidative stress, and autophagy and such detrimental effects were reversed by ALA treatment. In conclusion, ALA possesses excellent iron chelating properties that may be exploited in a clinical setting for organ preservation, as well as exhibiting a good safety profile and low cost for the national health system.

Invertebrates are precious organisms in order to study environmental pollution. In particular, they appear to be suitable as a bioindicator species for pioneer ecotoxicity studies on new xenobiotics such as nanoparticles. In fact, they are able to absorb nanomaterials scattered in the environment in different ways and it's known the compartmentalization of nano-sized contaminants in selected tissues and intracellular organelles. Titanium dioxide represents the most used nanoparticulate, destined to become probably ubiquitous in the environment. Recently, some research has been published on the toxic potential of nano-TiO2 in several animal species. Among all invertebrates, Oniscidean Isopods are the only taxon of Crustaceans that has become completely terrestrial, known as excellent bioindicators and bioaccumulators. They have a digestive gland, the hepatopancreas, which is the location of election for the accumulation of pollutants. For this reason, they are considered efficient animal models to ecological studies. For this study, we collected Armadillo officinalis from Natural Oriented Reserve of "Vendicari" (Sicily, Italy), to evaluate the toxicity of titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) on their hepatopancreas, after a short period of exposure. We conducted morphostructural and immunohistochemistry assays. The results suggested a great capacity of the species of bioaccumulation of nanoparticles in the hepatopancreas, where a strong positivity to the metallothioneins was highlighted. Our study confirms that Oniscidean Isopods, in particular Armadillo officinalis, proved to be an appropriate indicator of pollution in terrestrial ecosystems from nanoparticles.

In the last years, the increase of anthropogenic activities has led to a progressive pollution of ecosystems. Oniscidean isopods are a group of terrestrial animals known as excellent bio-indicators and bio-accumulators, because of their capacity to accumulate contaminants and to implement appropriate strategies of detoxification. For this study, we collected Porcellionides pruinosus from two different sites in the Corinth region (Greece), a polluted site and a control site, to assess the heavy metal pollution status. We conducted an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis for the detection of trace elements in animals' hepatopancreas and soil; we performed also immunohistochemistry for detection of metallothioneins 1 (MT1) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70s). The results suggest a great capacity of the species in trace elements bioaccumulation and the high degree of pollution of the area near Agioi Theodoroi where the metal pollution index (MPI) is threefolds higher than the control site, due to the presence of significantly higher concentration of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, and lead found in hepatopancreas and soil. The environmental stress is confirmed by the expression of the relative biomarkers of exposure MT1 and HSP70. Our study, with a multimarker approach, consents getting a complete analysis of environmental quality and the effect of pollution on organisms and shows for the first time the heavy metals contamination status in certain Greece area. Furthermore, P. pruinosus proved to be an appropriate indicator of pollution in terrestrial ecosystems.

Nanotechnology is rapidly growing with nanoparticles produced and utilized in a wide range of commercial products worldwide. Among the different types of nanomaterials produced, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) occupy a predominant position and they are used in electronics, clothing, food industry, cosmetics and medical devices. Nanosilver has also showed excellent performance in antibacterial application. Nowadays, the increasing use of AgNPs has put the evidence on their possible toxicity to the human health and the impact on the environment. This paper focus on adverse effects of AgNPs in adult of Danio rerio. Fishes exposed to increasing concentrations (8, 45, and 701.1 mu g/l) silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, 25 nm in average diameter) and after treatment for 30 days, was quickly euthanized in MS-222. We have evaluated bioaccumulation of AgNPs using ICP-MS and analyzed histological changes, biomarkers of oxidative damage and gene expression in the gut, liver and gills tissues of AgNPs-treated zebrafish. The histological analysis showed lesions of secondary lamellae of the gills with different degrees of toxicity such as hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, subepithelial edema, and even in some cases telangiectasia. Huge necrosis of the intestinal villi was found in the gut. No lesion was detected in the liver. The analysis revealed a high expression of metallothioneins 1 (MTs 1) in animals exposed to AgNPs compared to the control group. The ICP-MS analysis shows that the amount of particles absorbed in all treated samples is almost the same. We can affirm that AgNPs toxicity linked more to their size and state of aggregation than to their concentrations. Silver nanoparticles can damage gills and gut because they are able to pass through the mucosal barrier thanks to their small size. The damage is still reversible because it is not documented injury to the basal membrane.