Genotoxicity assessment and oxidative stress responses in freshwater African catfish Clarias gariepinus exposed to fenthion formulations

Abstract

Fenthion is one of the most widely used organophosphate insecticides for the control of many varieties of pests in Nigeria. The genotoxic effect of the pesticide was evaluated in the blood erythrocytes of Clarias gariepinus using the micronucleus (MN) test. The oxidative stress parameters were also studied in the liver and gill tissues. Fish were exposed to 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mgL⁻¹ of fenthion and sampling was done on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and after 7-day recovery. Micronuclei induction was highest (7.55) on day 14 at all concentrations in the peripheral blood cells. Oxidative stress was evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation (LPO). Maximum LPO values of 62.47% and 71.17% were observed in the gill and liver tissues respectively in C. gariepinus exposed to 8.0 mgL⁻¹ concentration of fenthion. There were alterations in the values of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) during the exposure and recovery periods. The 7-day recovery period was not adequate to eliminate fenthion-induced changes as LPO, CAT, and GR activity remain elevated. However, MN frequency and activity of SOD, GSH, and GPx (except at 8.0 mgL⁻¹) recovered. The present findings give further credence on the integrated use of MN test and oxidative stress parameters in risk assessment of pollutants in aquatic ecosystem.

• Fenthion
• micronuclei
• lipid peroxidation
• oxidative stress
• Clarias gariepinus

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the authority and the Head Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for providing support, materials, and equipment for the research work.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.