Hematological and immunological responses in the African catfish Clarias gairepinus exposed to sublethal concentrations of herbicide Ronstar®.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of sublethal concentrations (0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 mg L) of the herbicide Ronstar on the hematology and some immune parameters in Clarias gariepinus juvenile (mean weight and length 58.72 ± 2.46 g and 27.60 ± 1.62 cm, respectively). The hematological and some immune parameters were studied for 21 days in a static renewal bioassay system in which the water and the herbicide were changed daily. The erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the treatment groups. When compared with the control, there were significant (p < 0.05) leucocytosis, lymphocytosis, neutropenia and monocytopenia in the treatment groups. Both the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were reduced ((p < 0.05) in the Ronstar-exposed fish. The result showed that the treated fish suffered hypochromic microcytic anemia. The total immunoglobulin and phagocytic indices (phagocytic capacity and phagocytic index) were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the treatment groups. while the respiratory burst was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the treatment groups. The result showed that exposure to Ronstar had adverse effects on the hematology and immunocompetency of the fish.