Pomphorhynchus laevis: the intestinal acanthocephalan as a lead sink for its fish host, chub (Leuciscus cephalus).

Aqueous lead exposure of chub (Leuciscus cephalus) experimentally infected with the parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis resulted in a rapid accumulation of this metal in the intestinal acanthocephalans, reaching concentrations which were significantly greater than in the host muscle, liver, and intestine and approximately 1000 times higher than the exposure con centration. Parasitized chub accumulated significantly less lead in their intestinal wall than their uninfected conspecifics (Mann-Whitney U test, P View Article and Find Full Text PDF