BACKGROUND
The mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda), a species thriving in the muddy brackish waters of Cox's Bazar, holds significant ecological and biomedical value. Hematological and biochemical analyses can serve as a valuable diagnostic tool for assessing health; however, reports remain limited for horseshoe crabs.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated hemolymph values to determine preliminary reference intervals (RIs) from free-ranging mangrove horseshoe crabs.
METHODS
Forty adult Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (20 males, 20 females) were collected from intertidal zones of Cox's Bazar in February 2024. Hemolymph was extracted by cardiac puncture under cold anesthesia for amebocyte counting and biochemical profiling. Plasma metabolites, enzymes, and electrolytes were analyzed using a standard automated laboratory biochemistry analyzer (Humalyzer 3000, Human Diagnostics, Germany), and data were statistically evaluated in accordance with established guidelines.
RESULTS
Total amoebocyte counts demonstrated substantial variability (RI: 0.6-38.5 × 106 cells/mL). This study found significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, chloride (Cl-), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in female horseshoe crabs, whereas alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was significantly higher in males. In contrast, no significant (p > 0.05) differences between sexes were observed in glucose, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), uric acid, creatinine, urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and amebocyte counts. Reference intervals (RIs) were established after excluding outliers identified across multiple measurands in both sexes.
CONCLUSION
This study provides baseline data and underscores the need for further research, particularly across different seasons, to enhance the suitability and applicability of the established RIs.
Microplastic contamination in marine ecosystems has emerged as a growing environmental concern, yet information on commercially important fish species from the Bay of Bengal remains limited. This study investigated the occurrence, abundance, and characteristics of microplastics in the gill and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) tissues of eight widely consumed marine fish species collected from the Cox’s Bazar coast of Bangladesh. A total of 40 specimens were analyzed using alkaline digestion, microscopic identification, and polymer characterization via ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected in 77.5% of gill samples and 82.5% of GIT samples, with a total of 172 particles identified. The mean abundance was 2.55 ± 0.21 items per sample in gills and 2.82 ± 0.37 items per sample in GIT. Fibers were the dominant morphotype (91.86%), followed by fragments (8.14%). Blue-colored particles were most prevalent (40.69%), with particles in the 501–1500 µm (36.62%) and 151–500 µm (30.81%) size classes being the most abundant. ATR-FTIR analysis of a representative subset of particles revealed that polyethylene (39.53%) and polypropylene (30.23%) were the most common materials, with polyester also contributing notably (18.60%). Microplastic abundance showed no significant relationship with fish morphometric parameters. Variations among species suggested possible influences of feeding behavior and habitat, although these observations should be considered exploratory because of the limited sample size. The predominance of fibrous particles and common packaging-related polymers suggests multiple anthropogenic sources, including fisheries and domestic waste. These findings emphasize the need for improved waste management, reduction of plastic use in fisheries, and stricter regulation of synthetic discharges to mitigate microplastic contamination in coastal marine environments of Bangladesh.
Saifuddin Rana, Mohammad Shakil Khan, Md. Tanvir Hossain Tushar et al.· Anthropocene Coasts· 0 citations
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