ABSTRACT

The aquatic ecosystem is a sink for pesticides Atrazini is a widely herbicide and may be toxic to fish due to it’ s solubility in water. The study aimed to evaluate the acute and sub-lethal effects of atrazine on the haematology, hythopathology and oxidative stress on jureniles of clarias ganiepirus. The results obtained showed that the 24, 48, 72, and 96yrs LC5o of atrazine was 21. 23, 19.57, 18.37 and 18.37 mg/l respectively. Physical behavioral effects observed include: done pigmentation haemorrhuging from gills, mucous secretion and respiratory ditress.. the total white blood cell, red blood cell, packed cell volume haemoglobin, catalase and super oxide dismutase, decreased, while mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin aminotransfersa, malondialdehyde increased significantly when compared with the control (P<0.056) following exposure to sublethal concentrations. histological alterations observed include congested blood vessels, inflammatory oedema, necrosis and ulceration of primary and secondary lamelle. The study showed that atrucine was toxic to clarias ganepirus and it’ s use agricultural tulbs close to aquatic bodies should be strictly monitored. SOD activity 26.77±0.37 U/L, of fish exposed to 0.75 mg/L atrazine was insignificantly (p>0.05) lower than the control 30.53±1.04 U/L. However, SOD values of fish exposed to 1.13 mg/L and 2.25 mg/L, 23.61±0.37, 19.46±1.23 U/L respectively were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the control. CAT activity 14.22±0.10, 13.04±0.32, 12.95±0.37 U/L of fish exposed to 0.75 mg/L, 1.13 mg/L and 2.25 mg/L atrazine respectively were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the control 18.24±1.14 U/L. MDA value of 2.29.0±0.11 mmol/L of fish exposed to 0.75 mg/L atrazine were statistically insignificantly higher (p>0.05) than the control 1.52±0.31 mmol/L. However, MDA values of 3.21±0.17, 3.57±0.21 mmol/L of fish exposed to 1.13 mg/L and 2.25 mg/L, respectively were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the control. AST of 19.0±1.15 U/L for fish exposed to 0.75 mg/L atrazine was insignificantly (p>0.05) higher than the control 14.33±0.58 U/L. However, AST values of fish exposed to 1.13 mg/L and 2.25 mg/L, 22.67±0.88, 23.33±2.67 U/L respectively were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control. ALT value of 31.67±1.15, 36.67±0.67, 41.0±0.58 U/L of fish exposed to 0.75 mg/L, 1.13 mg/L and 2.25 mg/L atrazine respectively were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control 27.0±0.58 U/L.