Effect of Chronic Dietary Copper Exposure on Haematology and Histology of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Effects of exposure of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) to dietary copper and its recovery rate were investigated with the aim of determining the haematological and histological impact. In this study, fish were fed elevated copper diets (1000mgCukg-1 and 2000 mgCukg-1 as diet 2 and diet 3 respectively,) and control diet (5mgCukg-1, diet 1) for 42days and were then fed the control diet for a further 21days.To make dietary preparations of the copper concentrations,1.1722g and 2.3503g of CuSO4.5H2 O(AnalaR grade), dissolved in 35ml deionised water, were mixed with each of 300g of the commercially available pellet diet, which contained 5mgCu/kg of feeds, to make 1000mgCu/kg and 2000mgCu/kg of feed , respectively. Fish fed diet 2 (1000 mgCukg-1) showed significant increase (

Evaluation of Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Juvenile Oreochromis niloticus after Exposure to Water Soluble Fractions of Crude Oil

The influence of water soluble fraction of crude oil from Afiesere oil field on water qualitycomponents and its consequent effect on haematological and biochemical parameters in juveniles of Oreochromis niloticus were evaluated. After a preliminary determination of the 96 h-LC50 of crude oil by probit regression was found to be 92.38 mg/l, fish were exposed to 4 sub-lethal concentrations (30, 45, 60 and 75% of the LC50 corresponding to 28, 41, 55 and 69 mg/l respectively) of the oil and a control. After 84 days of exposure, blood was collected and used in conducting haematological and biochemical analyses. Exposure of water to crude oil caused increased levels in chloride, conductivity, salinity, magnesium, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity and Nitrate. The crude oil contaminated water resulted in a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the values of red blood cells, packed cell volume and haemoglobin. Although no definite trend in the values of computed haematological indices was observed, MCHC, however, decreased with increased concentration. Also, Glucose, ALP, ALT, AST, Urea and creatinine activities of all the affected set of fish, which have been exposed to the crude oil were significantly higher (p<0.05) in comparison to their respective control. Keywords: Crude oil, Afiesere oil field, blood, toxicity, water quality, Oreochromis niloticu

Genetic differentiation and inheritance of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers in pectoral spine phenotypic sub-groups of Clarias gariepinus

Information on genetic relationship of phenotypically divergent sub-groups would be useful for better identification, utilization and management of species. Recent study revealed phenotypic divergence in a reservoir population of Clarias gariepinus. Genetic variability of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of the phenotypic divergent sub-groups was investigated in this study. Polymorphism and genetic variability were investigated in electrophoresed random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR products of blood samples of twenty (20) C. gariepinus individuals. The population comprised of five (5) individuals of the non-peses phenotypic sub-group- individuals that did not possess anteriorly serrated pectoral spines denoted by S and fifteen (15) individuals of peses sub-groups that possessed anteriorly serrated pectoral spines denoted as C. Standard protocols were followed in analyzing six screened RAPD primers per individuals DNA fragment. Produced bands of pheno-grams were scored and analyzed to establish polymorphism as well as within and between sub-populations allelic variability using unweighted paired group method of algorithms (UPGMA) and dendrograms cluster analysis. Genotype data of individuals in the groups were tested for canonically significant discriminant grouping using discriminant function analysis (DFA). Results reveal that the primers were polymorphic: 746 bands were obtained from 63 detected loci which gave 80.95% polymorphism. Polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged between 0.18 and 0.49. Percentage polymorphic band were 78.00 and 69.84% for peses and non peses sub-groups, respectively. Dendrogram separated the population to two groups. All peses individuals were in one cluster while all the non-peses individuals were on the second cluster. Within group variations were also observed: DFA revealed that 100% of original phenotypically grouped cases were correctly classified. It was concluded that RAPD primers are suitable genetic markers for establishing variability in C. gariepinus sub-populations; the pectoral spine phenotypic groups are genetic variants and are potential varieties for the species. The results would have wide application in identification, utilization and management of genetic resources of C. gariepinus.Keywords: Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker, morphologic and genetic variability, Clarias gariepinus.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(37), pp. 5567-557

Berberine modulates expression of mdr1 gene product and the responses of digestive track cancer cells to Paclitaxel

Berberine is the major constituent of Coptis chinese and is commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat patients with gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, using flow cytometry, we have found that a 24-h berberine treatment up-regulated the multidrug-resistant transporter (pgp-170) expression in two oral (KB, OC2), two gastric (SC-M1, NUGC-3) and two colon (COLO 205, CT 26) cancer cell lines. Decreased retention of rhodamine 123 was observed in berberine-treated cells as compared to vehicle control. To examine whether the berberine modulated pgp-170 expression in cancer cells is associated with changes in drug resistance, we determined the cytotoxicity, cell cycle progression and cell morphology of Paclitaxel-treated cells. Paclitaxel (1 nM–10 μM) treatment for 24 h induced cytotoxicity in OC2, SC-M1 and COLO 205 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of cells with 32 μM berberine for 24 h prior to Paclitaxel treatment resulted in increased viability as compared to that of Paclitaxel-treated cells. In addition, Paclitaxel-induced apoptosis and/or G2/M arrest in these three cancer cell lines. Pretreatment of cells with berberine prior to Paclitaxel blocked the Paclitaxel-induced cell cycle responses and morphological changes. These results together suggest that berberine modulated the expression and function of pgp-170 that leads to reduced response to Paclitaxel in digestive track cancer cells. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Efficacy of insect larval meal to replace fish meal in juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer reared in freshwater

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of dietary protein from black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, larval meal (BSFL) to replace fish meal (FM) protein in juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer. Larvae of black soldier fly were fed with the underutilised crop, sesbania, Sesbania grandiflora. Five isonitrogenous (44% crude protein) and isocaloric (16.0 kJ available energy/g) experimental diets were formulated to replace FM using processed BSFL meal at 0 (control), 25% (BSFL25), 50% (BSFL50), 75% (BSFL75) and 100% (BSFL100). Data for proximate and amino acid analysis suggested BSFL meal as an inferior protein ingredient than FM, but parallel to soybean meal. At the end of 8 weeks of fish feeding trial, there were no significant differences in the average weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate among the group of fish-fed control, BSFL25 and BSFL50 diets (P < 0.05). Although numerical differences were recorded in the fish whole-body proximate composition, crude protein and moisture content were not much affected by the different dietary treatments. Essential amino acids including arginine, histidine, lysine and methionine were found to be higher in the whole body of fish-fed BSFL100 diet. Broken line regression analysis of average WG showed an optimum FM replacement level of 28.4% with BSFL meal. Therefore, the present experiment clearly demonstrates that the maximal dietary inclusion level of BSFL meal as FM protein replacer for the optimum growth of juvenile barramundi reared in freshwater could be greater than 28.4% but less than 50%, without any adverse effects on the fish whole-body proximate and amino acid composition

An overview of the utilisation of microalgae biomass derived from nutrient recycling of wet market wastewater and slaughterhouse wastewater

Microalgae have high nutritional values for aquatic organisms compared to fish meal, because microalgae cells are rich in proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. However, the high cost for the commercial production of microalgae biomass using fresh water or artificial media limits its use as fish feed. Few studies have investigated the potential of wet market wastewater and slaughterhouse wastewater for the production of microalgae biomass. Hence, this study aims to highlight the potential of these types of wastewater as an alternative superior medium for microalgae biomass as they contain high levels of nutrients required for microalgae growth. This paper focuses on the benefits of microalgae biomass produced during the phycore-mediation of wet market wastewater and slaughterhouse wastewater as fish feed. The extraction techniques for lipids and proteins as well as the studies conducted on the use of microalgae biomass as fish feed were reviewed. The results showed that microalgae biomass can be used as fish feed due to feed utilisation efficiency, physiological activity, increased resistance for several diseases, improved stress response, and improved protein retention

Growth performance of blue mussel (mytilus edulis) in Ofiki River, Oyo State, Nigeria.

An assessment of growth performance of Mytilus edulis in Ofiki River in Oyo state, Nigeria was carried out to collect baseline information about its stock, enhance understanding on its biology and broaden knowledge about its culture in Nigeria. Shell length, tissue growth, biomass, body condition and somatic production of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) collected from net bags were assessed for 12 months (June 2004 – July 2005) fromsamples collected along the river course at four different sites.Growth and production performances was determined using Von Bertalanffy growth function following length class grouping of the Mytilus edulis collections. Highest mean level of Ash Free Dry weight (AFDW) of 1.80g at a mean density of 0.75 (NM-2) was obtained in length size class38.50mm-41.00mm (longer size group) of Mytilus edulis in Ofiki river. Lowest mean level of Ash Free Dry weight (AFDW) was obtained in shorter length size class 17.50mm-20.00mm (0.12g at 1.67NM-2 density). Overall growth performance (Ø) recorded was 3.27, mean abundant(3.71±0.60NM2), somatic production (2.636±0.084 gm-2year-1) and productivity (0.77). Body condition index of Mytilus edulis in Ofiki River was high with peak at dry season. It was concluded from this study that there exists good culture potential for blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) in ofiki river, Oyo State as spats of various growth stages were obtainable and growth rate of Mytilus edulis obtained was high

Seasonal variation in fish distribution and physico-chemical parameters of wetland areas in Oyo State, Nigeria

A study was conducted to assess the physico-chemical characteristics and fish distribution of wetland areas of Oyo State. The results revealed incidence of pollution as a result of agricultural pollution mainly dueto use of agrochemicals. The water pH, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) were below the World Health Organization (WHO) and FEPA permissible limit in all the locations withthe exception of Ajinapa where 5.0, 226.8 mg/l and 372.6 mg/l were recorded for pH, BOD and COD respectively. The level of agrochemical usage varied significantly (p < 0.05) among the locations examinedwith Ajinapa (Orire LGA) having the highest rate (65.0%) while papa-Eleye (Oluyole L.G.A) had the lowest (15.0%). A total of 16988 individuals, 11 fish species belonging to 7 families were found in 11 locations with Oreochromis niloticus (30.6%) and Clarias gariepinus (20.8%) dominating the catches. From the result, it is clear that high level of pollution in Ajinapa (Orire LGA) location is traceable to the use of agrochemical andtherefore there is a need to take appropriate measure to preserve the aquatic life.Keywords: Water pollution, wetland, fish biodiversity, Agrochemicals