Genotoxicity on BUFO Marinus Linnaeus (Anura: Bufonidae) from selected rivers in Cebu Province, Philippines

摘要

The presence of various pollutants in the environment could cause nuclear abnormalities and DNA damage. Thus in this study, Erythrocyte Nuclear Abnormality (ENA) test and Comet Assay were used to measure nuclear abnormalities and DNA damage in the Bufo marinus collected from three rivers in Cebu with varying water quality as monitored by the Environment Management Bureau. These rivers are Guindaruhan River, Guadalupe River and Butuanon River. Blood samples from the heart of 30 toads from each sampling station were collected for ENA analysis and Comet Assay. Different ENAs, namely, nuclear protrusion, double nucleus, nuclear pycnosis, micronucleus, and nuclear concavity were observed and the number of the abnormalities increased as the level of waterquality decreased (p<0.05). Using the Comet Assay Software Project (CASP), the degree of DNA damage was measured using the parameters such as Olive Tail Moment (OTM), percent DNA in tail (TailDNA), and comet length (LComet). Upstream of Guindaruhan River, had the least DNA damage and number of ENAs but these significantly increased (p<0.05) as the water quality was degraded. This was potentially due to the presence of genotoxicants in the water bodies. The results support the proposed idea that ENA test and Comet assay can be potential methods that could enhance environmental monitoring and assessment programs of water bodies in the Philippines.