ARSENIC CONTENT IN THE PARASITE-HOST SYSTEMS: POMPHORHYNCHUS LAEVIS-ABRAMIS BRAMA AND ACANTHOCEPHALUS LUCII-ABRAMIS BRAMA.

During the ecological study of 31 specimens of freshwater bream (Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1758)) from Danube River, by applying standard techniques for parasites, an infestation was found with two acanthocephalan species -- Pomphorhynchus laevis and Acanthocephalus lucii. The content of arsenic in water, sediments, parasites, tissues and organs of Abramis brama (infected and uninfected) were establishedin the present study. P. laevis showed 42-170 times higher content of arsenic than its host tissues and organs. The content of arsenic in A. lucii was 37-205 times higher than the content of arsenic in its host tissues and organs. The highest concentration of arsenic in uninfected specimens of A. brama was found in liver (1.35±1.29 mg.kg-1 ). The highest concentration of arsenic for the infected with P. laevis specimens of freshwater bream was established for muscles (0.68±0.08mg.kg-1 ), while for the infected with A. lucii specimens of fish, the highest concentration of arsenic was established for skin (1.75±1.32 mg.kg-1 ). A highly significant correlation (p<0.01) was fixed for the relationship between CAs/P. laevis--CAs/Muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]