Author(s): Popoola Omoniyi Michael

Abstract: The toxicity of Diuron (N-(3, 4 dichlorophenyl)-N, N- dimethylurea), a herbicide was investigated on Clarias gariepinus popularly cultured fish in Nigeria. Hematological and biochemical indices status of DNA were examined in Diuron treated fish. Juvenile African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (76.69±2.85g) were exposed to sub-lethal 0.00 ml/L, 0.5 ml/L, 0.75 ml/L, 1.00 ml/L, 1.25 ml/L and 1.50 ml/L of herbicide for 96 hours under static bioassay conditions. Another group of 2mg/l of cyclophosphamide was prepared. Water quality parameters were monitored during the bio-assay test. After 96 hours, blood was extracted from the fish and haematological parameters (Hb, PCV, WBC and RBC) were estimated. Biochemical indices of changes in creatinine, urea, cholesterol and triglyceride level were determined. The genotoxic effect was evaluated using micronucleus test. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) value was determined to be 1.29ml/L. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the haematological, biochemical analysis as the parameters measured differed with concentrations of the toxicant. The induction of micronuclei was highest (15.67) with highest concentration of the toxicant in the peripheral blood. The study revealed that long exposure to diuron at sublethal concentration can cause mutagenic effects, alter blood chemistry and oxidative dysfunctions in C. gariepinus.

Pages: 621-627  |  745 Views  82 Downloads

Download Full Article: Click Here