Automated image analysis of Euglena gracilis Klebs (Euglenophyta) for measuring sublethal effects of three model contaminants

The short-term impacts of atrazine (herbicide), tributyltin (organometal) and copper on the behaviour of Euglena gracilis Klebs (Euglenophyta) were assessed. First, the ECOTOX automated image analysis system was used, which measured swimming velocity, cell shape, percentage of cells swimming upwards...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2012-01, Vol.66 (8), p.1708-1715
Main Authors: Netto, I, Bostan, V, McCarthy, L, Laursen, A, Gilbride, K, Mehrvar, M, Pushchak, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atrazine
Atrazine - toxicity
Automation
Cell size
Cells
Change detection
Contaminants
Copper
Copper - toxicity
Early warning systems
Euglena
Euglena gracilis
Euglena gracilis - drug effects
Herbicides
Herbicides - toxicity
Image analysis
Image processing
Incubation period
Microscopy
Motility
Organic contaminants
Shape
Sublethal effects
Swimming
Swimming behavior
Trialkyltin Compounds - toxicity
Tributyltin
Visual observation
Warning systems
Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
Water quality
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Summary:The short-term impacts of atrazine (herbicide), tributyltin (organometal) and copper on the behaviour of Euglena gracilis Klebs (Euglenophyta) were assessed. First, the ECOTOX automated image analysis system was used, which measured swimming velocity, cell shape, percentage of cells swimming upwards, and randomness of swimming. Next, visual observation by microscopy was used to measure percentage of cell motility and cell shape. Behavioural changes can be used as an indicator of stress in less than 24 h, potentially making them suitable for inclusion in early-warning systems for water quality. Findings indicate that E. gracilis is a very sensitive organism to copper, showing inhibition of motility with visual observation at 0.8 μmol/L within 1 h. The image analysis system was in general less sensitive than visual observation for detecting behavioural changes after incubation in copper. In contrast, after exposure to organic contaminants atrazine and tributyltin, the ECOTOX system detected small changes in the number of cells swimming upwards (antigravitactic behaviour) at higher concentrations.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2012.387