RESPONSE OF METABOLITES IN BRAIN TISSUES OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS EXPOSED TO SUBLETHAL CONCENTRATIONS OF THE ORGANOPHOSPHATE INSECTICIDE RAIDER® (CHLORPYRIPHOS 20%EC)

Biological Sciences

The effect of the insecticide perfect killer on the metabolites in the brain of Clarias gaiepinus was investigated. The study was done to simulate the possible impact of the insecticide on fish metabolites in the brain due to consequences of flooding and erosion. The fish were exposed to different concentrations of the toxicant (0.25ml, 0.5ml and 1.0ml) in 30litres of water in plastic basins for a week. The control tank (0ml) had no toxicant. Fish were sacrificed and brain tissue samples collected for analysis of creatinine, total protein and total glycerides. Data were analysed for means and standard deviations. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed at the 95% confidence level to determine the variability and similarities in the measured variables. Turkey HSD post Hoc test was thereafter used to separate means. SPSS 20.0 statistics tool kit was used to aid the analysis. The result of the Study reveal an increase in creatinine from control (0ml) to 0.25ml inclusion of the toxicant from a mean of 26.0±11.35 to 67.33±32.88 before reducing as the toxicant increased to 1.0ml. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between 0.25ml and 1.0ml toxicant inclusions. There was also an increase in total protein and total glyceride from control (0ml) to 0.25ml respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between control and all inclusion levels of toxicant in total protein. The study shows that the insecticide perfect killer® hinders proper metabolism of Clarias gariepinus. Therefore care should be taken in its application, as the contamination of surface waters may affect a wide range of fishes causing damage to vital organs and even death. The prospects of biomagnification and bioaccumulation is also worrisome.

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