Assessment of Histopathological Damages in African Catfish (Clarias garienpinus) as Influenced by Nittol Detergent Aquatic Pollution in Nigeria

Abstract

Toxicity of Nittol detergent on the histopathology of the African catfish (C. gariepinus) sub adult was investigated. The experiment was conducted in triplicates of four treatments. Behavioral changes in fish exposed to different concentrations of Nittol detergent ranged from erratic swimming, moribund movement, jumping and lack of balance. Similar changes were not observed in the control throughout the experiment. Nittol detergent is composed of linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonate (LABS), sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), sodium carbonate, sodium sulphate, sodium perborate and sodium silicate (perfume) as active ingredients. The fish were exposed to concentrations 1.0 g/L, 2.0 g/L, 3.0 g/L and 4.0 g/L. At 1.0 g/l concentration, the mean mortality was 80% with an initial erratic swimming. It was observed that mean mortality increased drastically with increase in concentration of the pollutant (Nittol detergent). At concentration 3.0 g/L, total mortality was observed within 72 hours of exposure preceding moribund swimming while total mortality was observed in 4.0 g/L. The concentration at which 50% of the experimental fish were killed (LC50) was 1.9 g/L. Results from statistical analysis indicated that mortality varied (p<0.05) significantly with concentrations as higher values recorded higher mortalities. However, mean values showed highest mortality (74%) with Nittol detergent. Histopathology of the liver of fish exposed to Nittol after 96hrs revealed severe damage and necrosis of the liver cells when compared with the control which had a normal distribution of hepatic cells. Similarly, results from histopathology of the gills of the exposed fish to Nittol detergent revealed fusion and damages to gills lamellae when compared with the control which has normal distribution of the gills lamellae. Severe changes in the epithelia of the gill arch were also observed. Findings from histopathology of the intestine also revealed severe damages to the intestinal walls and mucosa when compared with the control. Images from the histopathology of the gills revealed severe damages to the gill lamellae by the Nittol detergent whereas the control showed a normal distribution of gills lamellae. And in the same vein, histopathology result on the effect of Nittol Detergent on the intestine of the exposed fish revealed chronic damages to the intestinal mucosa when viewed with motic electron microscope at x10 magnification. It was therefore concluded that Nittol Detergent causes significant and severe damages to C. gariepinus and recommended the control disposal of this detergent into aquatic bodies to reduce the negative impact on the histopathology of aquatic organisms.

Surfactant pollution, an emerging threat to ecosystem: Approaches for effective bacterial degradation

“…The study concluded that detergent toxicity in aquatic organisms reduces the success rate of reproduction and also produced congenital anomalies (Rahimi et al, 2020). Histopathological damages to liver cells, gills, intestinal walls, and mucosa in African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ) have been reported with Nittol detergent which contains linear alkylbenzene sulphonate as a major constituent (Ivon, Etangetuk, et al, 2020). Hematological parameters in the same species were also reported disturbing and lead to increased mortality (Ivon, Ubi, et al, 2020).…”

Toxic Potentials of Nittol Detergent on Haematological Parameters of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in Nigeria

“…It spawns around inundated areas of river, lakes and streams mostly at night [5]. One of the reasons for the choice of this genus of fish for this research work is that it is considered as an aquatic biomarker [6][7][8][9]. Other reasons for the choice of this fish species includes its hardiness and ability to tolerate adverse water quality conditions, its ability to grow fast and feed on a large variety of agriculture by-products and its ability to tolerate difficult conditions in captivity [10].…”

“…Most chemicals exhibit deleterious effects on the aquatic environment if not properly handled or controlled. Industrial products beneficial to humans can also pose serious threats to man and the entire environment [11][12][13]9].…”

“…Strict government legislation and heavy penalties have not in any way changed these negative trends of indiscriminate disposal of chemicals into our water bodies. Detergents are one of the most toxic pollutants we have in the world today inflicting so much damage to the environment and the organisms thereon, especially those in the aquatic environment [26,27,9]. Detergents apart from altering water quality and chemistry, inflict heavy and sometimes fatal damages to aquatic organisms and their dependents, [28].…”

“…[32]. Most fishes will die when detergent concentration approaches 15 parts per million (15 ppm) [33,9]. Detergent concentration as low as 5 ppm will kill fish eggs [34].…”