Effects of Pretilachor Pyribenzoxim Pollution on the Water Quality, Serum Biochemical Indices, and Behavioural Response of Oreochromis niloticus Juveniles

Abstract

Aims: The effects of Pretilachor pyribenzoxim (PP) pollution on the water quality, serum biochemical indices, and behavioural response of Oreochromis niloticus Juveniles were studied. Study Design:  The completely randomized design was used in this study. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was carried out in the Central Laboratory of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria, between January and March 2023. Methodology: The experiment was carried out in 30 L of non-chlorinated and aerated water in rectangular plastic tanks (45cm x 30cm x 30cm). 250 juveniles O. niloticus of both sexes were collected from Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo state and acclimatized for 14days in the laboratory. During rearing period, the fish were fed coppen feed at 2% body weight. In a definitive test, a group of 10 fish specimen (11.3-17.5cm length and 10.5-32.3g weight) were treated at random to nominal PP doses of 0.0, 0.10, 0.125, 0.150, 0.175, and 0.2 ml being diluted in 30 litres of water and labelled T1. T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively in triplicate. The LC50 of PP, test water's physicochemical, behavioural responses and serum biochemical indices were determined. Results: The dissolved oxygen depleted (P<0.05) in T5 and T6, compared to  T1 and the rest  of the treatments. The water conductivity increases (P<0.05) with an increased concentration of PP contamination. The water's total dissolved solids levels increased progressively with an increase in PP concentration. The total dissolved solids in T5 and T6 were similar (P>0.05) to T4 but lower (P<0.05) than T1 and T2. Juveniles in treatments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shows behavioural responses such as loss of reflex, fin deformation, erratic swimming, air gulping, and moulting. The serum total  protein of the juveniles in treatments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 was lower (P<0.05) than T1. Serum creatinine level increased with increased PP contamination from treatments 1 to 6. The serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of the juvenile in T3, T4, T5 and T6 were higher (P<0.05) than in T1. The serum Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of the juvenile in T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than T1. Conclusion: The exposure of juvenile O.niloticus to PP contamination affected the physicochemical properties of water, behaviour and Serum biochemicals of juvenile O. niloticus fish.  Hence, leaching of pp into water bodies through Agricultural activities should be mornitored to reduce lost of fish which can lead to economic detune.