PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF WHIPSUPER HERBICIDE ON NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS)

Mohamed A. Ali

Reproductive Physiology And Hatchery Department. Central Laboratory For Aquaculture Research, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt.

Received 3/ 1/ 2011 Accepted 2/ 2/ 2011

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of herbicide Whipsuper (field and ½ field concentrations) toxicity on some growth performance, survival rate fingerlings of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus). Also, the gonadosomatic, hepatosomatic index and biochemical changes. The 96 hour half-lethal concentration (96 hrs LC50) of the herbicide (Whipsuper) found to be 0.08 ppm for Nile tilapia, O. niloticus, fingerlings mean while the used field concentration of this herbicide was 0.0008 ppm.

During determination of fish clinical manifestation of toxicity (96-hr LC50), was dermined (0.08 ppm) exhibited erratic swimming movements. The mucus secretion enormously appeared and accumulated on the gills and the fish exhibited a respiratory disorder swimming on surface, opening their mouth with rapid and frequent exhalation. Also, fish groups exposed to the field and 1/2 field concentration of Whipsuper showed reduction weight gain and decreased specific growth rate. The observed changes in total plasma protein, total plasma lipids and blood glucose were non significant in fish groups. Morever the correlation between gonadosomatic index and hepatosomatic index in males and females showed low significant in males and high significant in female.

Key words: Oreochromis niloticus, Herbicide, Whipsuper toxicity, Growth performances, Survival rate, biochemical and hamatological