Experimental study on the bioaccumulation of oxytetracycline and oxolinic acid by the blue mussel ( Mytilus edulis). An evaluation of its ability to bio-monitor antibiotics in the marine environment

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 48; no. 5; pp. 434 - 440
• Main Authors: Le Bris, Hervé, Pouliquen, Hervé
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - analysis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacokinetics; Anti-Infective Agents - analysis; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacokinetics; Antibiotics; Applied ecology; Bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; Biomonitoring; Bivalvia; Bivalvia - chemistry; Blue mussel; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Life Sciences; Marine; Mytilus edulis; oxolinic acid; Oxolinic Acid - analysis; Oxolinic Acid - pharmacokinetics; Oxytetracycline - analysis; Oxytetracycline - pharmacokinetics; Seawater; Tissue Distribution; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - pharmacokinetics; Blue mussel; Biomonitoring; Antibiotics; Mytilus edulis; Bioaccumulation; Seawater; Oxolinic acid; Gill; Ecotoxicology; Toxicity; Biological indicator; Experimental study; Uptake; Biological monitoring; Marine environment; Oxytetracycline; Antibiotic; Bivalvia; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Biological accumulation; Organic compounds; Half life; MYTILUS EDULIS; BIOACCUMULATION; BIOMONITORING; ANTIBIOTICS; SEAWATER; BLUE MUSSEL
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2003.08.018

The ability of blue mussel (
Mytilus edulis) to act as a potential antibiotic bioindicator in marine waters was experimentally tested by the study of the kinetics of two veterinary antibiotics (oxolinic acid: OA and oxytetracycline: OTC). Antibiotic uptake was fast in the soft parts of the mussels. OA was quickly eliminated while OTC was released more slowly (half-life in viscera=3.9 days). OA and OTC were preferentially accumulated in gills and in viscera, respectively. Bio-accumulation factors were low (maximum: 2 for OTC in viscera) in accordance with the low
K
ow
s. It was assumed that the higher OTC bioaccumulation pattern was related to its binding to mineral and organic compounds that led to its activity inhibition (62%). The antibiotics were persistent in shells (OTC half-life=8.3 days). Most veterinary and human antibiotics such as tetracyclines and sulphonamides have low log
K
ow (<2) and should weakly accumulate in mussel. This might limit the use of blue mussel to bio-monitor antibiotics in the marine environment.