title: Mutagenic and physiological responses in the juveniles of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) following short term exposure to praziquantel.
abstract: Praziquantel (PZQ) is an acylated quinoline-pyrazine originally developed for veterinary application but now one of the most used anti-helminthic drugs for treatment of certain trematodes and cestodes in both human and other animals. The present study investigated the mutagenic and physiological responses in the juveniles of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus following short term exposure to praziquantel. Based on the 53.52 mg/l 96 h LC50 of PZQ obtained, two sublethal concentrations of 5.35 and 10.70 mg/l of the drug were selected and fish were exposed to these concentrations and control for 15 days. Micronuclei induction in the peripheral blood of PZQ-exposed fish was highest on day 10 but the fish morphological parameters were not affected. The packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly reduced (p<0.05) from day 5 while red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) significantly declined (p<0.05) on day 15. Macrocytic anemia was observed on day 1 of study and thereafter microcytic anemia developed on day 5 of study. The white blood cell (WBC) was significantly (p<0.05) elevated from day 10 of exposure while values of mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cellular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were not significantly different (p>0.05) from the control. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glucose levels significantly increased while protein reduced (p<0.05) throughout the exposure period but a mixed trend was observed in the leukocyte differentials. PZQ should be used with caution as sublethal exposure elicited micronucleus induction and alterations of hematological and biochemical parameters in the fish.
authors: Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Electronic address: didigwunwani@yahoo.com.
authors: Christopher Dididgwu
authors: CD
authors: Nwani
authors: Department of Applied Biology & Biotechnology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors: Macniel Chijioke
authors: MC
authors: Nnaji
authors: Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
authors: Stanley Ndubuisi
authors: SN
authors: Oluah
authors: Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
authors: Paul Chinedu
authors: PC
authors: Echi
authors: Department of Applied Biology & Biotechnology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors: Helen Ogochukwu
authors: HO
authors: Nwamba
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
authors: Ogbonnaya Egbe
authors: OE
authors: Ikwuagwu
authors: Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University of Technology, Owerre, Nigeria.
authors: Malachy Nwigwe Okechukwu
authors: MN
authors: Ajima
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002397:Catfishes / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011223:Praziquantel; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Biochemistry; Blood parameters; Clarias gariepinus; Micronuclei; Praziquantel; Toxicity