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Research paper thumbnail of Cadmium Contamination and Health Assessment in Frog Microhyla fissipes Living Downstream of Zinc Mining Area in Thailand

In Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand, concerns have been raised over cadmium contamination... more In Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand, concerns have been raised over cadmium contamination, potentially due to zinc mining activities. Although there is no report of acute toxicity on animals in this area, the impact of long-term environmental exposure to cadmium on their health are of attention. Water and sediment samples collected from two field sites (low-Cd and high-Cd sites) in Mae Sot during 2008 were analyzed by GFAAS. Year round cadmium contamination in water ranged from 0.0015-0.002 mg/L in low-Cd site to 0.0019-0.0023 mg/L in high-Cd site, while higher levels were found in sediment ranged from 0.1013-0.2206 mg/kg in low-Cd site to 2.9260-3.2888 mg/kg in high-Cd site. Microhyla fissipes was collected from each habitat in 2-month interval during wet season. Detectable level of cadmium residue was found only in the frog collected from high-Cd habitat. Gravimetric analysis showed that hepatosomatic indices were significantly higher in high-Cd habitat. Histopathology showed several similar alterations in the liver, however higher number of melanomacrophage center was found in high-Cd habitat. Renosomatic indices and kidney tissue alterations were not significantly different between two sites. Reproductive health in term of gonadosomatic indices (GSI) was not significantly different between male frogs from both habitats. But in the females living in high-Cd habitat, significantly lower GSI were observed. The results indicate that exposure to environmentally relevant dose of cadmium may interfere with the frog health. Using the frog as a sentinel species in this study suggests an important implication for overall health of animals/human in this area.

Research paper thumbnail of Hepatic Metallothionein and Glutathione-S-Transferase Responses in Two Populations of Rice Frogs, Fejervarya limnocharis, Naturally Exposed to Different Environmental Cadmium Levels

Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and metallothionein are important biomarker endpoints in studying... more Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and metallothionein are important biomarker endpoints in studying the effect of Cd exposure. The purpose of this research was to study the correlation between hepatic GST and metallothionein with hepatic Cd in wild Fejervarya limnocharis exposed to environmental Cd. Results showed that frogs from contaminated sites had significantly higher hepatic metallothionein (3.58 mg/kg wet weight) and GST activity (0.259 lmol/min/mg total protein) than those from the reference site (2.36 mg/kg wet weight and 0.157 lmol/ min/mg total protein respectively). There was a significantly positive correlation between hepatic Cd and GST activity (r = 0.802, p = 0.009) but not between hepatic Cd and metallothionein (r = 0.548, p = 0.139). The results concluded that while frogs from the contaminated site had higher GST and metallothionein, only GST showed significant positive correlation with hepatic Cd levels, indicating that hepatic GST activity may be used as a biomarker endpoint.

Research paper thumbnail of Reproductive Mode of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) Caught from Mae Sot, Thailand Based on Its Gonadosomatic Indices

Reproductive Mode of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) Caught from Mae Sot, Thailand Based on Its Gonadosomatic Indices

Amphibians show a variety of reproductive modes and strategies. The cyclicity and continuity of r... more Amphibians show a variety of reproductive modes and strategies. The cyclicity and continuity of reproduction can often be predicted from the annual gonadosomatic index trends in a species specific manner. This research aims to document the female and male gonadosomatic index profiles and to ascertain the reproductive cyclicity or continuity of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) caught in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand. Frogs were collected monthly between November 2007 and October 2009 in rice fields and their surrounding areas in the study site. For each frog, total weight and ovarian/testicular weight were measured to obtain the female and male gonadosomatic index. The number of female individuals with mature eggs (postvitellogenic eggs) was also counted. The results showed that female frogs had two main surges of increased GSI in March and September of 2008. Alternatively, male frogs showed a more gradual increase and decrease in gonadosomatic index, thus the index remaining high throughout the year. This study concluded that while F. limnocharis in this area is essentially a continuous breeder, it is more optimized for a cyclic reproduction mode with two breeding cycles during the rainy season.

Research paper thumbnail of Reproductive Mode of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) Caught from Mae Sot, Thailand Based on Its Gonadosomatic Indices

Asian Herpetological Research, Aug 3, 2011

of the major determinants for timing of reproduction. Timing and intensity of rainfall play a maj... more of the major determinants for timing of reproduction. Timing and intensity of rainfall play a major role in determining when breeding should occur. Frogs in nonseasonal tropical environments often breed year round. These frogs often show a cyclical reproductive pattern. On the other hand, in seasonal tropical areas, breeding is usually timed to coincide with the wet season. Some species show explosive patterns while others exhibit a cyclical/continuous breeding mode throughout the wet season. The employment of continuous (acyclic) or discontinuous (cyclic) reproduction is developed accordance to egg incubation and the resulting hatchlings/ neonates. These stages are fragile, and, therefore, need hospitable condition, maximum survivorship, minimum physiological stress, few predators and maximum food.

Research paper thumbnail of Cadmium Contamination and Health Assessment in Frog Microhyla fissipes Living Downstream of Zinc Mining Area in Thailand

In Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand, concerns have been raised over cadmium contamination... more In Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand, concerns have been raised over cadmium contamination, potentially due to zinc mining activities. Although there is no report of acute toxicity on animals in this area, the impact of long-term environmental exposure to cadmium on their health are of attention. Water and sediment samples collected from two field sites (low-Cd and high-Cd sites) in Mae Sot during 2008 were analyzed by GFAAS. Year round cadmium contamination in water ranged from 0.0015-0.002 mg/L in low-Cd site to 0.0019-0.0023 mg/L in high-Cd site, while higher levels were found in sediment ranged from 0.1013-0.2206 mg/kg in low-Cd site to 2.9260-3.2888 mg/kg in high-Cd site. Microhyla fissipes was collected from each habitat in 2-month interval during wet season. Detectable level of cadmium residue was found only in the frog collected from high-Cd habitat. Gravimetric analysis showed that hepatosomatic indices were significantly higher in high-Cd habitat. Histopathology showed several similar alterations in the liver, however higher number of melanomacrophage center was found in high-Cd habitat. Renosomatic indices and kidney tissue alterations were not significantly different between two sites. Reproductive health in term of gonadosomatic indices (GSI) was not significantly different between male frogs from both habitats. But in the females living in high-Cd habitat, significantly lower GSI were observed. The results indicate that exposure to environmentally relevant dose of cadmium may interfere with the frog health. Using the frog as a sentinel species in this study suggests an important implication for overall health of animals/human in this area.

Research paper thumbnail of Hepatic Metallothionein and Glutathione-S-Transferase Responses in Two Populations of Rice Frogs, Fejervarya limnocharis, Naturally Exposed to Different Environmental Cadmium Levels

Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and metallothionein are important biomarker endpoints in studying... more Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and metallothionein are important biomarker endpoints in studying the effect of Cd exposure. The purpose of this research was to study the correlation between hepatic GST and metallothionein with hepatic Cd in wild Fejervarya limnocharis exposed to environmental Cd. Results showed that frogs from contaminated sites had significantly higher hepatic metallothionein (3.58 mg/kg wet weight) and GST activity (0.259 lmol/min/mg total protein) than those from the reference site (2.36 mg/kg wet weight and 0.157 lmol/ min/mg total protein respectively). There was a significantly positive correlation between hepatic Cd and GST activity (r = 0.802, p = 0.009) but not between hepatic Cd and metallothionein (r = 0.548, p = 0.139). The results concluded that while frogs from the contaminated site had higher GST and metallothionein, only GST showed significant positive correlation with hepatic Cd levels, indicating that hepatic GST activity may be used as a biomarker endpoint.

Research paper thumbnail of Reproductive Mode of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) Caught from Mae Sot, Thailand Based on Its Gonadosomatic Indices

Reproductive Mode of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) Caught from Mae Sot, Thailand Based on Its Gonadosomatic Indices

Amphibians show a variety of reproductive modes and strategies. The cyclicity and continuity of r... more Amphibians show a variety of reproductive modes and strategies. The cyclicity and continuity of reproduction can often be predicted from the annual gonadosomatic index trends in a species specific manner. This research aims to document the female and male gonadosomatic index profiles and to ascertain the reproductive cyclicity or continuity of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) caught in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand. Frogs were collected monthly between November 2007 and October 2009 in rice fields and their surrounding areas in the study site. For each frog, total weight and ovarian/testicular weight were measured to obtain the female and male gonadosomatic index. The number of female individuals with mature eggs (postvitellogenic eggs) was also counted. The results showed that female frogs had two main surges of increased GSI in March and September of 2008. Alternatively, male frogs showed a more gradual increase and decrease in gonadosomatic index, thus the index remaining high throughout the year. This study concluded that while F. limnocharis in this area is essentially a continuous breeder, it is more optimized for a cyclic reproduction mode with two breeding cycles during the rainy season.

Research paper thumbnail of Reproductive Mode of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) Caught from Mae Sot, Thailand Based on Its Gonadosomatic Indices

Asian Herpetological Research, Aug 3, 2011

of the major determinants for timing of reproduction. Timing and intensity of rainfall play a maj... more of the major determinants for timing of reproduction. Timing and intensity of rainfall play a major role in determining when breeding should occur. Frogs in nonseasonal tropical environments often breed year round. These frogs often show a cyclical reproductive pattern. On the other hand, in seasonal tropical areas, breeding is usually timed to coincide with the wet season. Some species show explosive patterns while others exhibit a cyclical/continuous breeding mode throughout the wet season. The employment of continuous (acyclic) or discontinuous (cyclic) reproduction is developed accordance to egg incubation and the resulting hatchlings/ neonates. These stages are fragile, and, therefore, need hospitable condition, maximum survivorship, minimum physiological stress, few predators and maximum food.