Long term integrated biomarker responses in freshwater African catfish Clarias gariepinus exposed to a new brand of herbicide fluazifop-p-butyl

Abstract

The study investigated the sublethal effects of Fluazifop-p-butyl (FPB) on the haematological, biochemical and oxidative stress changes in Clarias gariepinus. Juvenile C. gariepinus were exposed to FPB concentrations of 1.80, 3.50, and 7.10 mg/l corresponding to 5, 10 and 20% of 96 h LC₅₀ value of FPB respectively for 21 days and allowed to recover for 7 days. The blood, liver and gills were removed and analyzed. Fish exposed to different concentrations of FPB showed significant decline in the values the pack cell volume, hemoglobin and red blood cells but the white blood cell values increased. The neutrophil values increased while the lymphocyte declined but the monocytes, basophil and eosinophil values remain unchanged. The liver and gill aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase significantly increased compared to the control. There were mixed trends in the values of glucose but total protein was reduced in both tissues of the fish. There was significant decline in superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase while malondialdehyde, total glutathione, and glutathione reductase increased in both liver and gill of the exposed fish. Following the 7-day withdrawal, most of the observed parameters returned to normal values. The present study revealed that FPB is toxic to C. gariepinus juveniles and prolonged exposure could result to major health risks to aquatic organisms, hence, they should be carefully used.

Keywords:

• Long-term exposure
• herbicide
• fish
• biochemistry
• oxidative stress

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the authority of University of Nigeria Nsukka for the space and materials provided for the bench work.

Consent of publication

All authors approved for the publication of the manuscript if accepted

Author Contributions

LNA procured the animal specimens, did the laboratory experiments. COC performed the statistical analysis and wrote the results. CIA and HCE managed the literature and revised the manuscript. SIE and MNC managed the references and edited the manuscript. CDN designed the work and wrote the protocol and helped in the revision of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets are available on request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was not funded by any group or organization.