The effects of exposure to multiple stressors of Lead (Pb) and Cypermethrin on biochemical profiles of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus

The African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) is a widely cultured fish species in many African countries because of its rich nutritional quality. In this study, the impacts of exposure to common environmental contaminants; a heavy metal (Lead) and a pyrethroid insecticide (Cypermethrin) on the biochemical contents of C. gariepinus was investigated. Juveniles of C. gariepinus were exposed to borehole water (control), 2 mg/L Pb, 0.5 \ub5g/L cypermethrin or 2 mg/L Pb + 0.5 \ub5g/L cypermethrin for 96 h after which the total protein levels, glycogen contents and total cholesterol in the liver and muscle were determined. Fish exposure to cypermethrin and a mixture of cypermethrin and Pb resulted in a significant decrease in glycogen and protein levels but a significant increase in the cholesterol levels in liver and muscle (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the control and the group exposed to 2 mg/L Pb. The glycogen and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the liver in groups exposed to cypermethrin and the mixture of cypermethrin and Pb (p < 0.05) while the total protein levels were higher in the muscle, although this difference was not statistically significant. The results of this study suggest that environmental pollution of aquatic environments have adverse effects on the health of resident fish as well as other aquatic life

Urinary Schistosomiasis and Its Potential for Cancer and Hepato-Renal Function Alterations among the Residents of Asejire Dam, South-Western Nigeria

Urinary schistosomiasis is of public health significance in sub-Saharan Africa with its prevalence being linked to carcinogenesis. However, there is a paucity of data to support this relationship. This study explored the prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infections and its associations with cancer and hepatorenal function alterations in villages along the Asejire dam in the State of Osun, Nigeria. Urine samples from 152 consented participants (aged 18–75 years) from four communities were collected and examined for Schistosoma haematobium using the microscopy method. The blood serum of randomly selected infected and non-infected individuals (10 per group) was screened for tumor, inflammatory and hepato-renal function biomarkers. From the results, only one out of the four communities recorded cases of schistosomiasis with a prevalence of 26.5% (22/83) and overall infection prevalence was 14.47% (22/152). There was no statistical difference (p ˃ 0.05) in kidney, liver antioxidants, and lipid peroxidation markers in the infected and non–infected participants. The concentrations of antioxidants, inflammatory, and tumor markers were higher in Schistosoma infected individuals as compared with non-infected individuals. This justifies the need to monitor schistosomiasis-infected individuals for tumor, inflammatory and hepato-renal function biomarkers before they develop into cancer, liver, and kidney failure. Keywords:    Urinary Schistosomiasis; tumor; and inflammatory markers; antioxidants; hepato-renal function; Asejire dam Nigeri

Ionoregulatory Impairment in African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) Exposed to Combined Stressors of Lead and Cypermethrin

The contamination of aquatic ecosystem with heavy metals and pesticides has increased dramatically over the years, and this has generated a lot of attention by environmental experts. There are reports on impacts of different single toxicants on aquatic organisms but not much has been done to investigate the impacts of mixtures of toxicants on aquatic life. In this study we investigated the effects of multiple stressors of Pb and cypermethrin on ionoregulation in the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Adults C. gariepinus were exposed to either borehole water (control), 2 mg/L Pb, 0.5 μg/L cypermetrin or a mixture of 2 mg/L Pb and 0.5 μg/L cypermethrin for 96 h, after which the levels of plasma Na+, Cl- and K+ were determined as a measure of branchial ionoregulatory disturbance. The exposure of C. gariepinus to 0.5 μg/L cypermethrin resulted in a significant reduction in plasma Na+ (43% decrease) and Cl- (31% decrease) but a 2-fold increase in plasma K+ concentrations. Exposure to a mixture of cypermethrin and Pb resulted in 53% decrease in plasma Na+, 40% decrease in plasma Cl- and a 3- fold increase in plasma K+. There was no significant difference between the control and those exposed to just only 2 mg/L Pb for all the parameters measured. The results of this study indicated that exposure of aquatic organisms to combined stressors of heavy metals pollution as well as pesticide contamination could have a serious effect on the physiology especially on ionic regulation in the exposed fish

Ionoregulatory Impairment in African Catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) Exposed to Combined Stressors of Lead and Cypermethrin

The contamination of aquatic ecosystem with heavy metals and pesticides has increased dramatically over the years, and this has generated a lot of attention by environmental experts. There are reports on impacts of different single toxicants on aquatic organisms but not much has been done to investigate the impacts of mixtures of toxicants on aquatic life. In this study we investigated the effects of multiple stressors of Pb and cypermethrin on ionoregulation in the African catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>). Adults <i>C. gariepinus</i> were exposed to either borehole water (control), 2 mg/L Pb, 0.5 μg/L cypermetrin or a mixture of 2 mg/L Pb and 0.5 μg/L cypermethrin for 96 h, after which the levels of plasma Na⁺, Cl^- and K⁺ were determined as a measure of branchial ionoregulatory disturbance. The exposure of <i>C. gariepinus</i> to 0.5 μg/L cypermethrin resulted in a significant reduction in plasma Na⁺ (43% decrease) and Cl^- (31% decrease) but a 2-fold increase in plasma K+ concentrations. Exposure to a mixture of cypermethrin and Pb resulted in 53% decrease in plasma Na⁺, 40% decrease in plasma Cl^- and a 3- fold increase in plasma K⁺. There was no significant difference between the control and those exposed to just only 2 mg/L Pb for all the parameters measured. The results of this study indicated that exposure of aquatic organisms to combined stressors of heavy metals pollution as well as pesticide contamination could have a serious effect on the physiology especially on ionic regulation in the exposed fish

The effects of exposure to multiple stressors of Lead (Pb) and Cypermethrin on biochemical profiles of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus

The African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) is a widely cultured fish species in many African countries because of its rich nutritional quality. In this study, the impacts of exposure to common environmental contaminants; a heavy metal (Lead) and a pyrethroid insecticide (Cypermethrin) on the biochemical contents of C. gariepinus was investigated. Juveniles of C. gariepinus were exposed to borehole water (control), 2 mg/L Pb, 0.5 µg/L cypermethrin or 2 mg/L Pb + 0.5 µg/L cypermethrin for 96 h after which the total protein levels, glycogen contents and total cholesterol in the liver and muscle were determined. Fish exposure to cypermethrin and a mixture of cypermethrin and Pb resulted in a significant decrease in glycogen and protein levels but a significant increase in the cholesterol levels in liver and muscle (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the control and the group exposed to 2 mg/L Pb. The glycogen and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the liver in groups exposed to cypermethrin and the mixture of cypermethrin and Pb (p < 0.05) while the total protein levels were higher in the muscle, although this difference was not statistically significant. The results of this study suggest that environmental pollution of aquatic environments have adverse effects on the health of resident fish as well as other aquatic life