Imposex em Stramonita haemastoma (Mollusca: Gastropoda) : reavaliação na zona metropolitana de Fortaleza e indução em condições de laboratório

Abstract

Imposex, a syndrome which affects gastropods exposed to organotin compounds, has been widely used as a bioindicator of environmental contamination by these compounds. Imposex was evaluated in Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus 1767) by two different approaches: 1. Imposex reinspection in areas under influence of Mucuripe port with previous records of the syndrome; and 2. Imposex induction on S. haemastoma specimens, under laboratory conditions by TBT injections. To the imposex reinspection, eleven stations were sampled along Fortaleza and vicinity coast, considered under influence of Mucuripe port according to the currents direction. The results have shown indexes reduction at all stations, which indicates a reduction in contamination by organotin compounds in the area. Only station (E8 – Mansa Beach) showed 100% of females affected by imposex, also showing indications of population decline. There was a reduction in the imposex incidence area and it has been also identified two other possible sources of contamination by organotin compounds on Fortaleza coast. In experiment animals were divided in three groups: EX (experiment), CA (alcohol control) and CN (null control). The animals were injected with tributiltin chloride (EX) and absolute alcohol (CA). The bioassay has shown that TBT chloride is efficient in inducting imposex in S. haemastoma. There was correlation between imposex development and exposure time. The percentage of imposex has increased during the experiment, reaching 75% at its end. Other indexes like FPLI, RPLI and VDSI also have risen and showed correlation with time. FPLI (female penis length index) has reached 0,46; RPLI (relative penis length index), 13,86 and VDSI (vas deferens sequence index) has reached degree II.