The use of cestode parasites from the largemouth yellowfish, Labeobarbus kimberleyensis (Gilchrist and Thompson, 1913) in the Vaal Dam, South Africa as indicators of heavy metal bioaccumulation

Abstract: Twenty Largemouth yellowfish Labeobarbus kimberleyensis (Gilchrist and Thompson, 1913) were collected in the Vaal Dam in the vicinity of RAU Island (Groot Eiland). Muscle-, spinal cord- and liver tissue were removed from each fish and the intestine opened to obtain Bothriocephalus acheilognathi. The tissues were then digested in a microwave digester and the metal concentrations were determined in each tissue with an ICP-MS. The results indicate that the worms have potential use as bioindicators, because in 8 elements (lithium, beryllium, manganese, selenium, mercury, thallium, lead and uranium) out of the 23 elements measured the cestodes have accumulated the highest metal concentrations, and in 7 elements (chromium, iron, zinc, molybdenum, cadmium, tin and barium) out of 23 elements the cestodes had the second highest metal accumulation recorded. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]