Contrasting patterns of DNA damage by the comet assay in four species of the Hylidae family (Amphibia-Anura)

Abstract

Amphibians are components of many ecological communities and they can be used as indicators of environmental quality. Thus, in this study we evaluated the genome sensitivity of four species of anuran amphibians of the Hylidae family in a cattle raising area (Bela Vista de Goiás) and in a nickel area (Barro Alto) both at Goiás state, Central Brazil. The species analyzed are: Dendropsophus minutus, Hypsiboas albopunctatus, Hypsiboas paranaiba and Scinax fuscomarginatus. The comet assay was used as a biomarker to estimate DNA damage in these four Hylidae species. The genomic analyses were realized using the software "Comet Score" v1.5. An analysis of variances (ANOVA) and t-test were carried out to verify the genomic damage among and between all the four species analyzed. In the three comet assay parameters used, the species sampled from the nickel areas showed the largest stretches of DNA damage when compared to the same species sampled in the cattle raising area. So, we can suggest that all evaluated species may be used for eco-genotoxicity of aquatic environments.