Although some studies have evaluated the use of Siphonaria lessonii as a bioindicator of pollution, no study has identified the effects of human activities on the digestive gland, which is the main centre of detoxification of xenobiotics and a target organ in contamination studies. Thus, the present work aims to evaluate the use of this species as a suitable sentinel of contamination by analysing the digestive gland and shell alterations. The study was carried out in three populations exposed to different degrees of anthropogenic impact in the coast of Buenos Aires: a reference site (VG), a mid-impacted site (MPL) and a highly-impacted site (MPP). A histological analysis of the digestive gland was performed, as well as an assessment of the geometric morphometry, thickness, density and microstructure of the shell. Our results indicated that the individuals from the impacted sites present several histological alterations in the tubules of the digestive gland. These included hypertrophy and hyperplasia of different cell types (MPP), alterations of the digestive tube morphology (MPL and MPP), the presence of lipofuscin-like substances (MPL) and a high inflammatory response (MPP). In the shells, neither microstructural malformations nor changes in the elemental composition were found. However, shell morphometric variations and a decrease in shell hardness (thickness and density) were observed in the impacted sites. In conclusion, our results indicate that S. lessonii is a well-suited sentinel of contamination since the effects of anthropogenic impact may be reflected in both soft and hard structures. Although further investigations are necessary to identify the relationship between these effects and their potential causing agents, these simple and low-cost methodological approaches could be used to diagnose disturbance in the ecosystem health status where this species inhabits.

尽管一些研究评估了虹吸管的使用作为污染的生物指示剂，尚无研究确定人类活动对消化腺的影响，而消化腺是异种生物排毒的主要中心，也是污染研究的目标器官。因此，本工作旨在通过分析消化腺和壳的变化来评估该物种作为合适的污染前哨的用途。该研究是在布宜诺斯艾利斯海岸受到三个不同程度的人为影响的三个人群中进行的：参考位点（VG），中等影响位点（MPL）和高度影响位点（MPP）。进行了消化腺的组织学分析，并评估了壳的几何形态，厚度，密度和微观结构。我们的结果表明，受感染部位的个体在消化腺小管中表现出几种组织学改变。这些包括不同细胞类型（MPP）的肥大和增生，消化管形态的改变（MPL和MPP），脂褐素样物质（MPL）的存在和高炎症反应（MPP）。在壳中，既没有发现微观结构畸变，也没有发现元素组成的变化。然而，在受影响的部位观察到壳的形态变化和壳硬度（厚度和密度）降低。总之，我们的结果表明 脂褐素样物质（MPL）的存在和高炎症反应（MPP）。在壳中，既没有发现微观结构畸变，也没有发现元素组成的变化。然而，在受影响的部位观察到壳的形态变化和壳硬度（厚度和密度）降低。总之，我们的结果表明 脂褐素样物质（MPL）的存在和高炎症反应（MPP）。在壳中，既没有发现微观结构畸变，也没有发现元素组成的变化。然而，在受影响的部位观察到壳的形态变化和壳硬度（厚度和密度）降低。总之，我们的结果表明课程人链球菌是一种非常适合的污染定点，因为人为影响的影响可能反映在软结构和硬结构中。尽管有必要进行进一步的研究以查明这些影响与其潜在诱因之间的关系，但这些简单而低成本的方法学方法仍可用于诊断该物种所居住的生态系统健康状况的紊乱。