Effects of ozone, ultraviolet and peracetic acid disinfection of a primary-treated municipal effluent on the Immune system of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss)

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology Vol. 148; no. 2; pp. 122 - 127
• Main Authors: Hébert, N., Gagné, F., Cejka, P., Bouchard, B., Hausler, R., Cyr, D.G., Blaise, C., Fournier, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-08-2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Body Size; Body Size - drug effects; Body Size - radiation effects; Brackish; Cell Proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - radiation effects; Cities; Disinfectants; Disinfectants - adverse effects; Disinfection; Freshwater; Killer Cells, Natural; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Killer Cells, Natural - radiation effects; Life Sciences; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Lymphocyte Activation - radiation effects; Lymphocyte proliferation; Macrophages; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - radiation effects; Marine; Municipal effluents; Natural cytotoxic cells; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Oncorhynchus mykiss - growth & development; Oncorhynchus mykiss - immunology; Ozone; Ozone - adverse effects; Peracetic Acid; Peracetic Acid - adverse effects; Phagocytosis; Phagocytosis - drug effects; Phagocytosis - radiation effects; Quebec; Sewage; T-Lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - radiation effects; Time Factors; Toxicology; Ultraviolet Rays; Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects; Water Purification; Water Purification - methods; Quebec; Lymphocyte proliferation; Municipal effluents; Disinfection; Natural cytotoxic cells; Phagocytosis
• ISSN: 1532-0456; 1878-1659
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2008.04.007

Municipal sewage effluents are complex mixtures that are known to compromise the health condition of aquatic organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of various wastewater disinfection processes on the immune system of juvenile rainbow trout (
Oncorhynchus mykiss). The trout were exposed to a primary-treated effluent for 28 days before and after one of each of the following treatments: ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ozonation and peracetic acid. Immune function was characterized in leucocytes from the anterior head kidney by the following three parameters: phagocytosis activity, natural cytotoxic cells (NCC) function and lymphocyte (B and T) proliferation assays. The results show that the fish mass to length ratio was significantly decreased for the primary-treated and all three disinfection processes. Exposure to the primary-treated effluent led to a significant increase in macrophage-related phagocytosis; the addition of a disinfection step was effective in removing this effect. Both unstimulated and mitogen-stimulated T lymphocyte proliferation in fish decreased dramatically in fish exposed to the ozonated effluent compared to fish exposed to either the primary-treated effluent or to aquarium water. Stimulation of T lymphocytes proliferation was observed with the peracetic acid treatment group. In conclusion, the disinfection strategy used can modify the immune system in fish at the level of T lymphocyte proliferation but was effective to remove the effects on phagocytosis activity.