Detection of cytogenetic alterations and blood cell changes in natural populations of carp

A field study was conducted to investigate the appearance of alterations in the peripheral blood cells of wild populations of fish. Two aspects were evaluated: the appearance of cytogenetic effects, measured as increases on micronuclei frequencies, and the appearance of haematological effects by checking changes in the relative proportion of the different blood cell types. For this purpose common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were caught from four areas along a Spanish river. Three areas were located under the influence of chemical industries and/or a nuclear power plant. The fourth was a clean reference area. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the appearance of micronuclei on the same day of sampling and also after two and twelve months. The alterations in the relative proportion of cell types were counted in blood smears stained with Giemsa. Increases in micronuclei frequencies were observed in fish living in supposedly polluted areas. Alterations of the relative proportions of blood cells were manifested as an increase in white blood cells and as a decrease in red blood cells vs. control area. Since accidental spills have not been reported over this period of time, the alterations observed could suggest that fish are suffering chronic effects due to low level contamination associated with the sampled areas.