Evaluation of Metabolites of <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> Exposed to Sub-Lethal Concentrations of Oilfield Wastewater

Abstract

Twenty-eight adult Clarias gariepinus (mean weight 205 ± 12.89g SD; mean length; 31.13 ± 3.82cm SD) were exposed to various concentrations (0. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60%) in quadruplicates of an oilfield wastewater and were investigated for its responses on metabolites in tissue (plasma, gill, liver, kidney and muscle) samples after 28 days. The result showed that in all the tissues tested the values of total protein, creatinin and total bilirubin in all the control (0%) were higher (p≤0.05) than at treatment level. Metabolites in the plasma differed (P≤0.05) between concentrations except for creatinine and total bilirubin. Albumin in the control and treated fish were similar (p≥0.05) except in plasma and liver which recorded lower values than their control (p≤0.05). Total urea recorded its highest value at the highest concentration (60%) ranging between 4.25±0.09 in kidney and 12.0±1.47 mmol/l in muscle. Generally, the values did not follow a particular trend except for albumin values that decreased with an increased concentration of the toxicant. Significant changes observed in the study suggest stress induced by the oilfield wastewater on C. gariepinus hence the advocating for proper treatment of the wastewater before discharge into the environment.