Trace element concentration in Raillietina echinobothrida and Aporina sp. in comparison to their host tissues in laughing dove, Streptopelia senegalensis collected from Nasiriya city, southern Iraq

The present study aimed to assess the accumulation of five heavy metals in the cestode, Raillietina echinobothrida and Aporina sp., compared to their host, Streptopelia senegalensis collected from the Al-Nasiriya city, southern Iraq. Samples of liver, kidney, muscle, intestine and Cestoda of 60 infected birds were collected for Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Chromium and Zinc measurements. The results showed a higher accumulation of the studied metals in the bird tissue and two Cestoda. Zn in the liver had the highest accumulation rate. Based on the results, Raillietina echinobothrida and Aporina and their host Streptopelia senegalensis can be considered promising bioindicators to evaluate environmental heavy metals, especially Cd, Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn.