Histopathological alterations in gills, kidney and liver of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings exposed to aqueous leaf extract of Desert Date (Balanites aegyptiaca)

Abstract

One of the many biomarkers for determining the effects of pollutants on fish is changes in organ histopathology. Leaves of Balanites aegyptiaca have been reported to have phytochemicals with fish anaesthetic property. This study sought to determine the effect of graded acute concentrations (200.00, 250.00, 300.00.350.00 and 400.00 mg/L) of B. aegyptiaca on histopathology of gills, kidney and liver of mixed sex of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. A total of 120 O. niloticus fingerlings (mean weight 23±0.03 g and mean total length 12.50±0.39 cm) were exposed to the plant extract. Paraffin wax method and haematoxylin-eosin staining techniques of tissue processing were adopted for the examination of the gills, kidney and liver. Dose-dependent histopathological changes were observed in the three organs (gills, kidney and liver) i.e. histopathological alterations increase with increase in concentration of the plant extract. Gills showed lamellae fusion, haemorrhage, desquamation, atrophy and secondary lamellae erosion while kidney and liver indicated atrophy, necrosis, haemorrhage, hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Structural alterations were evident in the gills, kidney and liver of O. niloticus fingerlings exposed to the concentrations of aqueous crude leaf extract of B. aegyptiaca therefore it should be used with caution during fish anaesthesia.
 Keywords: Histopathology; Gill; Kidney; Liver; Balanites aegyptiaca; Oreochromis niloticus.

Acute Toxicity Effect of Crude Leaves Extract of Thevetia peruviana on Full Blood Count and some Organs of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles

“…In the same vain, the haemorrhage in the primary lamellae, desquamation of secondary lamellae, atrophy of primary lamellae, and complete erosion of secondary lamellae noted in this work are similar to the report of Audu et al, [14] after exposing the gills, and liver of O. niloticus fingerlings to concentrations of leaves extract of B. aegyptiaca. Histological aberrations in the liver, such as hypertrophy, atrophy, necrosis, Kupffer cell proliferation, and hepatocellular degenerations recorded in the present study also corroborated the findings of Audu et al, [14]; Wakawa and Audu [23].…”

“…Determination of water quality parameters in aquatic toxicology study is vital given its role in the survival of fish [33] since the life processes of fish depend entirely on the aquatic environment. The almost constant water temperature and the inverse increase in dissolved oxygen of the experimental tanks with a concentration of the leaf extract in this study are similar to the findings of Reboucas [34]; Wakawa and Audu [23]. The decrease in dissolved oxygen with an increased concentration of T. peruviana leaves extract could be due to its degrading effect on the oxygen molecules [35].…”

“…Audu et al [22] reported an increase in gills histopathological alterations (mild, moderate to severe lamellae cell depletion) in C. gariepinus juveniles with increased concentration of tuber peel extract of Tacca leontopetaliodes. Similar histopathological changes have been reported in the gills of O. niloticus fingerlings after exposure to acute concentrations of B. aegyptiaca [23].…”