<span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US; mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-GB">Assessment of pollution of river Ganges by tannery effluents using genotoxicity biomarkers in murrel fish, <i>Channa punctatus</i> (Bloch)</span>

476-483<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">River pollution due to rapid industrialization and anthropogenic activities adversely affects the aquatic organisms, especially fish. Here, we assessed the genotoxicity, mutagenicity and bioaccumulative aspects of tannery effluents in freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">, an inhabitant of river Gange. Test specimens were collected from three different polluted sites of the river within and nearby Kanpur area during different seasons and blood samples of these specimens were processed for comet assay and micronucleus test as genotoxicity biomarkers. A significantly (P <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> <0.05) higher micronuclei induction, nuclear abnormalities and % tail DNA was observed in the specimens collected from the polluted sites. Bioaccumulation studies in the muscle (1.202 µg/g) and gill tissues (of the specimens revealed the concentration of chromium (core component of tanning industry) above the maximum permissible limits as prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO). The findings of the present analysis indicated contamination of river Ganges with tannery effluents which induce genotoxicity in fish with seasonal variation.</span

Assessment of pollution of river Ganges by tannery effluents.

River pollution due to rapid industrialization and anthropogenic activities adversely affects the aquatic organisms, especially fish. Here, we assessed the genotoxicity, mutagenicity and bioaccumulative aspects of tannery effluents in freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus, an inhabitant of river Ganges. Test specimens were collected from three different polluted sites of the river within and nearby Kanpur area during different seasons and blood samples of these specimens were processed for comet assay and micronucleus test as genotoxicity biomarkers. A significantly (P <0.05) higher micronuclei induction, nuclear abnormalities and % tail DNA was observed in the specimens collected from the polluted sites. Bioaccumulation studies in the muscle (1.202 μg/g) and gill tissues (<0.300 μg/g) of the specimens revealed the concentration of chromium (core component of tanning industry) above the maximum permissible limits as prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO). The findings of the present analysis indicated contamination of river Ganges with tannery effluents which induce genotoxicity in fish with seasonal variation.Uttar Pradesh Council of Science & Technology (UP-CST), Lucknow

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Not AvailableThe tannery industries are the reason of major environmental concerns as they release toxic heavy metals, like chromium, in rivers posing risks of genotoxicity and mutagenicity in aquatic organism and indirectly in humans through food chain. In the present analysis, the freshwater inhabitant fishes of River Ganges, viz., Labeo calbasu, Puntius sophore, and Mystus vittatus, were examined for assessing the genotoxic, mutagenic, and bioaccumulative potentials of tannery effluents. For genotoxicity assessment, the blood and gill samples of fishes prevailed from polluted sites of River Ganges adjoining Kanpur city were utilized for comet assay and micronucleus test. The present investigation revealed the presence of significantly (p < 0.05) higher micronuclei induction and % tail DNA in erythrocytes and gill cells of the fishes collected from the polluted sites.The bioaccumulation studies revealed chromium concentration in muscle (0.89 mg/g) and gill tissues (0.24 mg/g) of L. calbasu; muscle (0.44 mg/g) and gills (1.23 mg/g) of P. sophore; and muscle (0.9617 mg/g) and gills (0.3628 mg/g) of M. vittatus, quite higher than the permissible limits of the World Health Organization. Consequently, the present study indicates strongly that River Ganges is contaminated with harmful tannery pollutants causing genotoxicity and mutagenicity in freshwater fishes.Uttar Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (UP-CST), Lucknow, India

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Not AvailableWe investigated genotoxicity and oxidative stress in the gills of Labeo rohita exposed to 33.6, 67.1, and 100.6 mg L–1 of cadmium chloride at 96 h. Genotoxicity was assessed using single cell gel electrophoresis whereas oxidative stress was monitored through lipid peroxidation induction and antioxidant response parameters, namely reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase (CAT) activities. Significant (p < .05) effect of both concentration and time of exposure was observed on the extent of DNA damage in treated fish. Similarly, malondialdehyde content, level of GSH, and activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly elevated in treated groups, except CAT. The increased DNA damage and lipid peroxidation (LPO) content along with fluctuation in antioxidant defense system in fish indicated the interaction of cadmium (Cd) with DNA repair processes and production of reactive oxygen species. Thus, Cd is liable for induction of LPO, alteration of antioxidant defenses, and DNA damage in gills of L. rohitaNot Availabl

Spectral Response at Different Water Depth Standing in the Field

Water availability and irrigation management can be estimated in agricultural fields through observation of field water storage. In order to calculate runoff and recharge through these fields, the water depth stored in the haveli fields must meet certain requirements. Remote Sensing data obtain through Satellite in all visible and NIR region might be helpful for such requirements. An experimental study is made to assess the utility of different bands for depicting depth of storage in field. Spectral reflectance was recorded on different depth from 0 to 100 cm of water. Ground Truth Radiometer (GTR) was used to conduct the experiment. Experimental observation shows the variation in reflectance with different depth of water stored in 1 m3 ponding water. It has been observed that spectral response shows variation under different storage level and different time of observation. To minimize error on observation the readings were taken under uniform sunshine condition and wind velocity. The Radiation under wavelength 0.4 and 1.1 µm was used to collect response in reflectance from experimental fields. The increase in reflectance with was observed with decrease in water level. This could be due to visibility of bottom soil in lower depths. A comparison between experimental response data and satellite image data of indicate that there is variation on band 4 and similar trend on band 1, 2. Mixed tread was observed in band 3. A clear decrease in reflectance up to 50 percent was observed when water storage depth increase up to 90 cm but then it started increasing. Similar variation was observed for observation with a depth of more than 1 m. Satellite data is more stable as compared to GTR data

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Not AvailableChromium is a well-documented carcinogen. To evaluate the genotoxic potential of hexavalent chromium on an aquatic bio-system, freshwater murrel fish (Channa punctatus) were exposed to potassium dichromate. The 96-h LC50 for potassium dichromate was 61.80 mg/L for the test fish in a static system. On the basis of the 96-h LC50, fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations of the test chemical. Fish exposed to the test chemical were sampled on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-exposure and blood and gill cells were collected. Significantly (p < .05) higher DNA damage in both lymphocyte and gillcells and micronuclei formation in whole blood was observed at different test concentrations and sampling times of the test chemical as compared to control fish. The mean% tail DNA in the comet tail assay showed a concentration-dependent increase and the maximum% tail DNA was observed on day 7 of exposure in both cells. A similar trend was also observed in micronuclei induction in blood with maximum induction on day 21. Hexavalent chromium showed genotoxic potential in chronic exposure of C. punctatus, and the micronucleus test and the comet assay are the methods for sensitive and rapid detection of the genetic effects.DBT, Govt. of Indi

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Not AvailableThe present study is aimed to assess the oxidative stress biomarker in kidney and liver of Labeo rohita exposed to the sub-lethal concentrations of cadmium chloride. The fishes were exposed to 33.6, 67.1 and 100.6 mg L−1 concentrations of cadmium chloride up to 96 h duration and the oxidative stress was monitored through the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione and activities of antioxidant enzymes, viz. glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The malondialdehyde content, level of reduced glutathione and activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in treated groups with the increasing concentration and exposure duration. Regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between elevated levels of LPO and reduced glutathione (r2 = 0.999 and 0.991 in liver and kidney, respectively) as well as glutathione and its dependent enzymes (r2 = 0.999 and 0.996 with GPx and GST, respectively) at 96 h post-exposure in both the tissues of L. rohita. Further, the increased level of reduced glutathione and activity of glutathione dependent enzymes were not effective in reducing the cadmium induced oxidative stress in the fish. These assays may be employed to monitor oxidative stress mediated macro-molecular damage in aquatic organisms due to heavy metal exposure.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe present study investigated the effects of cadmium chloride on the activities of antioxidant enzymes, viz. superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), in liver and kidney tissues of cyprinid fish, Labeo rohita. The test specimens were exposed to three concentrations of cadmium chloride namely, 33.55, 67.09 and 100.64 mg L-1, for 96 h duration. A significant elevation in SOD activity and reduction in CAT activity was observed in a dose- and time-dependent manner in both the tissues. The results suggest the essential role of SOD and CAT in antioxidant defense system for protecting fish species from oxidative stress; nhence, it can be considered as a sensitive biomarker of the antioxidant defense system.Not Availabl

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(ICAR Cess Fund F. No. 4(31)/2000-ASR-1;Code No. 0677001)River Gomti, a tributary of river Ganga in northern India, is being polluted due to indiscriminate disposal of domestic sewage and industrial wastes that contain genotoxic chemicals. The study was conducted to evaluate the genotoxic potential of polluted water of river Gomti in two fish species, namely Channa punctatus and Mystus vittatus. The fishes were exposed in situ in nylon cages to the polluted water of river Gomti fixed near a distillery outlet located in Lucknow. The induction of DNA damage and micronuclei were determined in blood erythrocytes using comet assay and micronucleus test, respectively. The induction in micronuclei frequencies and DNA damage were found to be significantly elevated (p < 0.01) in exposed specimens after 3 days post-exposure as compared to the control, i.e. from laboratory-acclimatized fish specimens. The comparison of DNA damage between the two species indicated that C. punctatus is more sensitive to aquatic pollutants. Thus, this fish could be used as a bio-indicator of genotoxicity for bio-monitoring of water bodies. The results further revealed that the river Gomti is being contaminated with potential genotoxic and mutagenic chemicals produced from industrial and domestic activities; therefore, immediate measures are needed to reduce the inflow of pollutants in the river.Indian Council of Agricultural research, New Delhi

Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis in an Elimination Setting: A Validation Study of the Diagnostic Algorithm in India

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is on the verge of elimination on the Indian subcontinent. Nonetheless, the currently low VL-incidence setting brings along new challenges, one of which is the validity of the diagnostic algorithm, based on a combination of suggestive clinical symptoms in combination with a positive rK39 Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). With this study, we aimed to assess the positive predictive value of the diagnostic algorithm in the current low-endemic setting in India by re-assessing newly diagnosed VL patients with a qPCR analysis on venous blood as the reference test. In addition, we evaluated the specificity of the rK39 RDT by testing non-VL cases with the rK39 RDT. Participants were recruited in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India. VL patients diagnosed based on the diagnostic algorithm were recruited through six primary health care centers (PHCs); non-VL cases were identified through a door-to-door survey in currently endemic, previously endemic, and non-endemic clusters, and tested with rK39 RDT, as well as&mdash;if positive&mdash;with qPCR on peripheral blood. We found that 95% (70/74; 95% CI 87&ndash;99%) of incident VL cases diagnosed at the PHC level using the current diagnostic algorithm were confirmed by qPCR. Among 15,422 non-VL cases, 39 were rK39 RDT positive, reflecting a specificity of the test of 99.7% (95% CI 99.7&ndash;99.8%). The current diagnostic algorithm combining suggestive clinical features with a positive rK39 RDT still seems valid in the current low-endemic setting in India