Histopathological alterations in Astyanax bifasciatus (Teleostei: Characidae) correlated with land uses of surroundings of streams

Abstract

This study evaluated gills and liver of Astyanax bifasciatus as histological biomarkers for biomonitoring of streams along areas with different land uses. The fish were collected by electrofishing in six streams in the basin of the lower Iguaçu River. The objective was to correlate the presence and degree of histopathological alterations of gills and liver with the environmental variables among streams along different land uses. The low frequency of histopathological alterations found in fish from the forest streams suggested normal organ functioning. In fish from the rural and urban streams, the histopathological alterations occurred were in higher frequency, indicated light to moderate damage in gills and liver of fish from the rural streams, and moderate to severe damage in liver of fish from urban streams. The histopathological alterations in gills (lamellar aneurysm) and livers (vascular congestion) verified in impacted streams were significantly more frequent and severe. It was possible to distinguish streams along different land uses, suggesting that these histopathological alterations can be used as biomarkers for biomonitoring studies. The health integrity of fish from streams in forest areas further reinforces the importance of maintaining preservation areas in basins under intensive land use.

Effects of heavy metal pollution on hepatosomatic ındex and vital organ histology in Alburnus mossulensis from Karasu River

“…In another study, Javed et al [21] reported that the waste water of thermal power plants contained heavy metals and that this wastewater affected the physicochemical properties of water, and noted that metals caused necrosis, rupture of the epithelium, lamellar fusion, hyperplasia, and lymphocyte infiltration in the gills of Channa punctatus. Since histopathological changes occurring in the gills, which are the first target organs for pollutants, can generate potential biomarkers, many investigators have studied gill damage [27,28]. In this study, the lesions detected in fish caught from heavily contaminated areas showed that the fish were stressed in their habitats.…”

Effects of vitamin C on structural changes in the tissues of the giant African catfish, Heterobranchus longifilis exposed to Zinc Oxide nanoparticles

“…Available area for exchange of gases may be diminished due to fusion of lamellae and could lead to hypoxic condition (Richmond and Dutta, 1989). Lamellar fusion in fish gills following introduction to contaminants have been documented (Nimet et al, 2018;Nimet et al, 2020). Aneurysms, an outward bulging or distension of the blood vessel may have resulted to the rupture of epithelial lamellae as observed in this study, with attendant consequence of frequent haemorrhagic condition that may predispose the fish to sudden death (Rajkumar et al, 2015) (2020) have shown a clear correlation between aneurysms in fish and other conventional contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides.…”