Plasma vitellogenin levels and gonadal morphology of wild carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in a receiving rivers downstream of Sewage Treatment Plants

A field study was carried out in order to assess, in a wild cyprinid fish, the biological effects related to the exposure to estrogenic compounds. The gonadosomic index (GSI), plasma vitellogenin (VTG) level and histological observations of gonads were performed to evaluate the reproductive health in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) from three rivers receiving sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents (Guadarrama, Henares and Jarama rivers, Spain) and from a reference site (Lozoya river). No significative differences in male GSI between sites were described. Only in the 18% of fish from Guadarrama river were elevated plasma VTG levels detected. The presence of oocytes in the testis was not found in any of males examined. The results suggest that the released estrogenic compounds by STPs effluents are not enough capable to adversely affect the gonadal development of the fish studied. Additional studies will be required to assess the risk of estrogenic compounds on fish from other sites of this area.