HEAVY METALS ACCUMULATION IN THE SYSTEM RATTUS NORVEGICUS – HYMENOLEPIS DIMINUTA FROM INDUSTRIAL AREA IN BULGARIA

Abstract

Rat intestinal parasites have attracted great interest as bioindicators for environmental quality since they can bioconcentrate several heavy metals to much higher concentrations than the tissues of the hosts. Our aim was to assess the potential of the cestode Hymenolepis spp. as a bioindicator for heavy metal pollution in an industrial area of the town of Maglizh, Bulgaria. The level of Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb and Cd was detected in the livers of rats and in the cestode. A bioconcentration factor (BF), Concentration parasite/Concentration liver, was determined. A high BF was observed for Cd, Pb and Mn. The results revealed that Hymenolepis spp. has much great ability to bioaccumulate heavy metals compared with their final hosts. Therefore, the system Rattus norvegicus-Hymenolepis spp. could be a very useful tool for environmental monitoring of the terrestrial areas.