The role and value of pathobiology in pollution effects monitoring programs [marine pollution, ulcer, fin erosion, tumours, skeletal anomalies, lymphocystis, invertebrate virus, marine fish, shellfish]

McIntyre, A.D.; Pearce, J.B.; Sindermann, C.J.; Bang, F.B.; Christensen, N.O.; Dethlefsen, V.; Harshbarger, J.C.; Mitchell, J.R.; Mulcahy, M.F.

The role and value of pathobiology in pollution effects monitoring programs [marine pollution, ulcer, fin erosion, tumours, skeletal anomalies, lymphocystis, invertebrate virus, marine fish, shellfish]

1980

The summary statement of the pathobiology panel is: 'Of the many diseases and disease signs that have been suggested or demonstrated to have an association with pollution, some are amenable at present for use in pollution monitoring programs. Others will require additional exploratory work and further data accumulation'. Several disease categories - ulcers, fin erosion, tumours, and skeletal anomalies -are considered available for near-term application to monitoring programs. Cytologic, cytogenetic, and embryologic anomalies and changes in immune responses have good potential but require further field testing. Lymphocystis and certain invertebrate viruses may also prove to be useful indices of pollution after further exploratory work. General conclusions from the pathobiology panel include the following: (1) The need for epidemiologic studies should be stressed, including surveys of prevalence, incidence (rate of acquisition), mortality, age effects, etc. (2) Any study must be multifactorial, and must include physical-chemical environmental data, including contaminant levels, as well as residue analyses of animals examined for pathology. (3) The need exists for pilot-level studies beginning with broadly based surveys that identify the occurrence of ulcers, fin erosion, skeletal anomalies and tumours - then move to more specific monitoring, capitalizing on insights gained. (4) There is no single disease or pathological sign that could serve as a universal indicator of pollution. There are, however, indicators which when associated with biochemical, physiological, genetic, and ecological parameters, could be effective approaches to pollution monitoring

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