Meiobenthic nematode Oncholaimus campylocercoides as a model in laboratory studies: selection, culture, and fluorescence microscopy after exposure to phenanthrene and chrysene

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 28; no. 23; pp. 29484 - 29497
• Main Authors: Allouche, Mohamed, Nasri, Ahmed, Harrath, Abdel Halim, Mansour, Lamjed, Alwasel, Saleh, Beyrem, Hamouda, Plăvan, Gabriel, Rohal-Lupher, Melissa, Boufahja, Fehmi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Chrysene; Chrysenes; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Exposure; Fluorescence; Fluorescence microscopy; Grain size; Harbors; Laboratories; Meiofauna; Microscopy; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Nematoda; Nematodes; Oncholaimus campylocercoides; Organs; Phenanthrene; Phenanthrenes; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Research Article; Sediments; Shells; Spicules; Tunisia; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Tunisia; Species selection; Mono-species gavage; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Fluorescence microscopy; Oncholaimus campylocercoides
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12688-1

Numerous studies have focused on the response of meiofauna after exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), but none has been devoted to their uptake into nematode body compartments. The present study monitored PAH uptake by Oncholaimus campylocercoides which was selected after 40 days in the laboratory through original protocols from natural sediments collected in the Old Harbor of Bizerte, Tunisia. To achieve the mono-species level, a grain size magnification was applied by gradually adding a biosubstrate made from either the crushed shells of Mytilus galloprovincialis or minced leaves of Posidonia oceanica . After selection, O. campylocercoides was cultured and fed with earthworm powder (560 mg.l -1 ). Thereafter, it was exposed for 3 weeks to phenanthrene and chrysene (38, 116, and 348 ppb). Fluorescence microscopy revealed higher intensities of PAHs at the spicules, mouths, and pharynges compared with the other organs considered. Moreover, the buccal fluorescence showed a significant correlation with that measured in the biosubstrate made with shells of M. galloprovincialis .