Metal concentrations in common skittering frog (<em>Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis</em>) inhabiting Korang River, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

The current study investigated metal concentrations (Zn, Cd, Pb, Mn and Fe) in the habitat and body tissues (blood, liver and kidney) of common skittering frog Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis along the Korang River, Islamabad, Pakistan. Samples were collected from three selected contaminated sites and a reference site at four different occasions from October 2010 to March 2012. All studied metals showed elevated levels in river water, as well as in blood, liver and kidneys of frogs from all contaminated sites. Specifically, Mn showed significantly higher levels in all analysed matrices from contaminated sites compared to the reference site. Histological sections of frog livers exposed to elevated metals showed abnormal hepatocytes, while their kidney sections showed discontinuous glomeruli with dead or ruptured cells exhibiting improper shapes with cytoplasmic depositions. This study indicates that frogs inhabiting Korang River are at potential risk of metal toxicity from the environment.