Liver histopathology of the sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus as a biomarker of aquatic pollution

Pesticides used in cotton production affect reproductive development, endocrine regulation, liver status and offspring fitness in African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

“…In fish exposed to higher concentration of endosulfan (TE-2) gonad index values were considered as indicator of pronounced alteration of organ tissue. Van Dyk et al (2012) also found similar testis index in African catfish sampled in the polluted River of Roodeplast in South Africa. Table 2 Testis index, ovary index and liver index in African catfish exposed to increasing doses of endosulfan (Thionex) and Tihan.…”

Assessment of the health status of wild fish inhabiting a cotton basin heavily impacted by pesticides in Benin (West Africa)

“…Similar elevations of HSI were also observed by Van Dyk et al (2012) in African catfish caught in rivers impacted by mining, industrial and urban effluents in South Africa, or by Corsi et al (2003) in Grass goby, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, caught in the Orbetello Lagoon (Italy) and exposed to chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons. The HSI increase can be linked, on the one hand, to macroscopic abnormalities such as stones and nodules of fat (Van Dyk et al, 2012); on the other hand, they may be attributed to the increased synthesis of vitellogenin from the stimulation of high plasma E2 levels (Mills et al, 2001). When toxic compounds exceed the detoxification level of the liver, high concentrations of a toxicant induced liver bio-transformer activity and provoked modifications in the normal hepatic structure.…”

“…Additional liver alterations detected in males and females of both species sampled in the Alibori River were hepatocellular pleomorphism, foci of clear cells, foci of necrosis, and cell hypertrophy. Similar lesions were observed in African catfish sampled from polluted rivers in South Africa by Van Dyk et al (2012). Several investigators reported degenerative changes, lipid vacuolization, and hyaline droplets in hepatocytes of fish exposed to commercial formulations of glyphosate (Szarek et al, 2000;Jiraungkoorskul et al, 2002Jiraungkoorskul et al, , 2003Langiano and Martinez, 2008;Albinati et al, 2007 and).…”

“…The It was even greater than 35 in African catfish at S4, indicating that the testes experienced severe damage. Van Dyk et al (2012) also found a similar liver index in African catfish sampled from the polluted Roodeplaat River in South Africa. During the dry season, the severity of testicular lesions in African catfish from the Alibori River sites was lower, whereas the liver of corresponding fish displayed pronounced damage.…”

“…In this study, Perl's iron staining exhibited the presence of hemosiderin in all of the MMC and in the macrophages. The predominant occurrence of hemosiderin in the MMC was reported previously in common dab, Limanda limanda (Bucke et al, 1984), Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis, roach, Rutilus rutilus, (Haaparanta et al, 1996), southern platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Leknes, 2004) and African catfish (Van Dyk et al, 2012). The accumulation of hemosiderin in the liver leads to hepatic hemosiderosis, due to a high intake or release of iron.…”