Author(s): Bala Sambo Audu, Audu Idi Wakawa, Sulaiman Yusuf and Likita Philibus Mamot

Abstract: The application of plant based anaesthesia to sedate and stupefy fish could not be without attendant collateral consequences to fish health. Balanites aegyptiaca has been reported to contain Phytochemicals that are toxic to fish. This study investigates acute toxicity effects of aqueous crude leaf extract of B. aegyptiaca on heamatology and serum biochemistry of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) O. niloticus fingerlings (mean weight 23.13±2.43g and total length 12.51±0.39cm) were exposed to graded concentrations (400.00, 350.00, 300.00, 250.00, and 200.00mg/L) of the leaf extract for 96 hours in twelve (12) rectangular glass tanks (40x25x23cm) filled with 10L each of dechlorinated municipal tap water. Exactly 1ml blood sample from each concentration was collected via cardiac puncture for haematological analyses using standard operational procedures. Haematological indices were examined for Packed Cell Volume (PCV), White Blood Cells (WBC), Red Blood Cells (RBC), Haemoglobin (Hb), Neutrophils (Neu), Lymphocytes (Lym), Monocytes (Mnc), Eosinophils (Eos) and Basophils (Baso) while calorimetric method was used to determine biochemical activities of enzymes including Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST). Water quality parameters in all the experimental tanks and control were monitored. The 96hr LC₅₀ of the plant extract on O. niloticus fingerlings is 257.04 mg/L with upper and lower confidence limits of 146.51 and 450.95 mg/L respectively with significant toxic effects on haematology and blood biochemistry even at the lower doses therefore indiscriminate dumping of B. aegyptiaca leaves into lentic water bodies should be avoided or regulated to preserve the fish species.

Pages: 356-364  |  1116 Views  332 Downloads

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