Generation of oxidative stress in freshwater oligochaete Tubifex tubifex due to exposure to aniline: time and concentration dependent toxicity assessment

ABSTRACT

Our current study examines the significant impact of aniline on the fish feed freshwater benthic annelid, Tubifex tubifex, including mortality, changes in total protein concentration and antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-s transferase and glutathione peroxidase), as well as the generation of oxidative stress (by assessing malondialdehyde concentration). The 96-hour LC₅₀ value of aniline is 276.940 mg/L. The General Unified Threshold Model of Survival (GUTS) was used to validate the survival rate pattern of the test organism in response to aniline at the acute level, with the GUTS-SD model better correctly predicting the expected course of population death. During long-term bioassay antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase, glutathione-s transferase and glutathione peroxidase) and oxidative stress biomarkers concentration (malondialdehyde concentration) is substantially enhanced while protein concentration and Catalase activity are markedly reduced during the bioassay. The stress and detrimental effects of aniline on Tubifex tubifex were examined in the current study, taking into account all biomarkers, by utilising the Integrated Biomarker Response index. The results show that exposure to toxicants like aniline has a detrimental effect on Tubifex tubifex's survival rate and general health.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Tubifex tubifex
• antioxidant enzyme
• IBR
• aniline
• GUTS model

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank the Department of Zoology of The University of Burdwan for offering necessary financial assistance as well as physical facilities.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Debanjali Chakraborty

Debanjali Chakraborty is a junior researcher and pursues her research in the field of aquatic toxicology.

Shubhajit Saha

Shubhajit Saha is currently working as Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, India. Dr Saha has eleven years of research and five years of teaching experience. He has published 62 research and review articles in reputed journals. Dr Saha has already attended and presented papers in various national and international conferences. He is working in fishery science, aquatic toxicology, wetland hydrobiology, plankton and ichthyofaunal diversity, histopathological alterations and also microplastics pollution. He is a life member of the Electron Microscopic Society of India, Indian Science Congress Association and Indian Ecological Society, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Dr. Saha is the Principal Investigator (PI) of a SERB-SRG project.

Sanjoy Podder

Sanjoy Podder is currently working as Professor, Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, India. Prof. Podder has already attended and presented papers in various national and international conferences. He is working in Clinical Immunology and allergology.

Nimai Chandra Saha

Nimai Chandra Saha is currently working as Professor in Zoology, Bidhannagar College, Kolkata, West Bengal. Prof. Saha is the former Vice Chancellor, The University of Burdwan (2016-2023). He has a long and vast experience in academia and administration. At present he has published 205 papers, review articles in various national and international repute journals. 12 scholars were already awarded Ph.D. under his supervision while 6 Ph.D. scholars are currently working under his guidance. Already 8 scholars were received Post Docs from him. Prof. Saha has spent 38 years in research on Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Aquatic Toxicology, Fisheries Sciences and 33 years in teaching. He has chaired as principal in several Government and Government Aided Colleges across the West Bengal under West Bengal Senior Education Service.

Caterina Faggio

Caterina Faggio is currently working as Professor in Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy. She has a long and vast experience in academia and administration. At present he has published 524 papers, review articles in various national and international repute journals. She is working in Marine Ecology, fishery science, aquatic toxicology, wetland hydrobiology, Ecotoxicology, Bioindicators, Ecotoxicology and Ecophysiology.