Impact of continuous Triazophos exposure on Labeo rohita: Physiological, biochemical, and histological alterations and IBRv2 index assessment

Abstract

Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture and aquaculture. Triazophos, an organophosphate-based pesticide, is widely used in agriculture to control many insect pests. Due to its high photochemical stability and mode of action, Triazophos could persist in the aquatic ecosystem and cause toxic effects on non-target organisms. We have studied the potential toxic effects of Triazophos on L. rohita. Primarily, we determined the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of Triazophos for 24 and 96 h. Next, we studied acute (96 h, LC_{50-96 h}) toxicity. Then, we studied chronic (35 days, 1/10^th LC_{50-24 h} Treatment I: 0.609 mg/L, 1/5^th LC_{50-96 h} Treatment II: 1.044 mg/L) toxicity. We analyzed blood biomarkers such as hematology (Hb, Hct, RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC), prolactin, cortisol, glucose and protein levels. Concurrently, we analyzed tissue biomarkers such as glycogen, GOT, GPT, LDH and histopathology. IBRv2 index assessment method was also to evaluate the Triazophos toxicity. Studied hematological, hormonal, biochemical and enzymological biomarkers were affected in Triazophos treated groups when compare to the control group. The changes in these biomarkers were statistically significant at the 0.05 alpha level. Triazophos exposed fish shown a severe degenerated primary and secondary lamellae, lamellar fusion, hypertrophy and telangiectasia in the gills. In the hepatic tissue, it caused moderate necrosis, blood congestion, distended sinusoids with minor vacuolation, prominent pyknotic nuclei, hypertrophy, cloudy swelling of cells, lipid accumulation and fibrotic lesions. In the renal tissue, Triazophos caused thickening of Bowman's capsule, hyaline droplets degeneration, irregular renal corpuscle, congestion, cellular swelling, degeneration of tubular epithelium, necrosis, shrunken glomerulus, vacuolated glomerulus, hypertrophy, exudate and edema. IBRv2 analysis suggested that tissue biomarkers are highly sensitive to Triazophos toxicity and prolonged exposure could cause serious health effects like acute toxicity in fish. Triazophos could cause multiorgan toxicity at studied concentrations.

Keywords: Blood biomarkers; Edible freshwater fish; IBR; Pesticide; Toxicity; Vital tissues.