Heavy metals concentrations in organs of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) and golden jackals (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) inhabiting the Sarnena Sredna gora mountain in Bulgaria

Stanislava Peeva, Kremena Georgieva, Lilko Dospatliev, Dian Georgiev, Miroslava Ivanova, Silviya Kalcheva, Evgeniy Raichev

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to determine the concentrations of the heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the muscles, kidneys and liver samples taken from red foxes (n = 9) and jackals (n = 17) inhabiting the “Sarnena Sredna gora” mountain in Bulgaria and to compare the respective results. It was established that concentrations of heavy metals (mg/kg dry weight) in the muscles, kidneys and liver samples are as follows: in the red foxes’ muscles: Pb – 0.170, Cd – 0.089, Ni – 2.312, Co – 0.074, Cu – 2.565, Zn – 41.382; in the red foxes’ kidneys: Pb – 0.761, Cd – 15.522, Ni – 2.834, Co – 2.033, Cu – 8.470, Zn – 30.157; in the red foxes’ livers: Pb – 0.953, Cd – 0.628, Ni – 2.480, Co – 1.664, Cu – 15.121, Zn – 30.106; in the jackal’s muscles: Pb – 1.126, Cd – 1.742, Ni – 7.416, Co – 1.798, Cu – 6.466, Zn – 66.804; in the jackal’s kidneys: Pb – 8.419, Cd – 11.185, Ni – 7.710, Co – 5.039, Cu – 33.861, Zn – 61.576; in the jackal’s livers: Pb – 8.879, Cd – 11.569, Ni – 7.342, Co – 4.963, Cu – 56.319, Zn – 63.618. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) and the jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758), could be used as an effective biomarker for the assessment of the environmental pollution in their natural habitats.

Keywords: golden jackal; heavy metals; kidneys; liver; muscles; red fox

Date published: 2018-06-28