Jornal de Toxicologia Clínica
Acesso livre
ISSN: 2161-0495
ISSN: 2161-0495
Francis Chijioke, Odo UU, Nsude Linus Odinakachukwu, Nnachi Osinachi Chinedu, Anya Chibuike Benjamin, Iyikite JC, Egbuji Jude Victor, Lemuel Angyunwe Samuel, Odanwu Samuel Ejike, Chukwukereze Kenneth Uwadinma, Ndubusi JO, Oboho DE, Odo Gregory Ejikeme*
Pesticides affect non-target organisms, the ecosystem including the atmosphere, soil, groundwater, surface water and the food web. This study was undertaken to investigate mancozeb toxicity on the Clarias gariepinus juveniles’ kidney, liver and spleen histoarchitecture. A total of 120 C. gariepinus with standard length and weight that ranged from 9.8 to 17.5 cm and 11 to 55 g were used for the experiment. Catfish juveniles were exposed to four sub-lethal concentrations (treatments) viz: 0.00, 20.55, 41.09 and 82.18 mg/L (Groups A-D) mancozeb fungicide. Each group was replicated three times and had 10 fish per replica summing up to 30 fish. The kidney of C. gariepinus exposed to lower concentrations showed vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of tubule lining cells, while the control group showed normal piscine kidney histoarchitecture. The liver of C. gariepinus exposed to lower concentrations showed increased lipid-like vacuolation, while the lower concentration during recovery period showed multifocal areas of hepatocellular necrosis with moderate infiltration of inflammatory leucocytes. The spleen of the control group and treatment group shows normal piscine splenic histoarchitecture throughout the duration period. The present investigation reveal that mancozeb was moderately to highly toxic to C. gariepinus and should be used with caution.