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

• 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
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2012.387

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.