Clastogenic effects of lead on the chromosomal complements of clarias batrachus

The effect of lead, a heavy metal, was found to have clastogenic effects on Clarias batrachus. Chromosomal studies on the fish indicated that the 2n numbers of chromosomes were 50 [18 metacentric, 20 submetacentric and 12 telocentric]. The effects of lead on the catfishes were investigated by constituting four different groups [n=16]. Group A: Control, Group B: 0.010 ppm of Pb [Treatment I], Group C: 0.025 ppm of Pb, [Treatment II], Group D: 0.050 ppm of Pb [Treatment III]. The exposure period was 24 hr, 48 hr and 72 hr for each group. Chromosomal aberrations were observed in the form of ring chromosomes, breakage of chromosomes, dicentric chromosomes and fragments of chromosomes. The highest percentage of metaphase spreads with chromosomal aberrations observed were 78.3 in Treatment I during 24 hr exposure of Pb. Chromosomal aberrations were highest in the form of ring type chromosomes [63.0%] in Treatment I during 48 hr exposure period. Breakage in chromosomes were maximum [57.1%] in Treatment II during 72 hr of exposure period. Maximum numbers of dicentric chromosomes [52.9%] were observed in Treatment I during 72 hr of lead exposure. Finally, the fragmented chromosomes were observed to the maximum [45.2%] after 24 hr of lead exposure in Treatment III. The studies indicated that exposure of lead at different concentrations causes clastogenic effects on the chromosomal complements of C. batrachus and the maximum abnormalities were manifestated in the form of ring chromosomes [63.0%]

Oxysomatium bareilliana n sp. a nematode parasite from bufo melanostictus from Rohilkhand region, India: variance in infectivity during growth of the host

Examination of gastrointestinal contents of Bufo melanostictus collected from Bareilly, India revealed the presence of a nematode parasite Oxysomatium in 100% of the hosts sampled. The concentration index of the parasite decreased with the growth of the host [1-20 gms: 32 parasites per host, 25-50 gms.: 20 parasites per host and 50-75 gms. :2-5 parasites per host]. Its ovo-viviparous in mature, the nerve absence of ring, lateral alae and gubernaculum, the absence of preanal papillae and presence of reduced number of post anal papillae [4-6 pairs] and difference in the spicule length differentiate the present species from the earlier reported ones and is described herein as Oxysomatium bareilliana n sp

Immunological responses in carps [Labeo rohita and Catla catla] exposed to cadmium

The present experiment has been designed to find out the effect of heavy metals on the immunological parameters of Labeo rohita and Catla catla as these are major pollutants of the fish habitat. The effect was observed on mean W B C count, lymphocyte and neutrophil count and other related parameters like general behaviour and stress on the controlled and experimentally exposed fishes to sub-lethal concentration of cadmium. Observations were-decreased in mean W B C and percent lymphocyte count, whereas neutrophilia was observed in both the species when exposed to sublethal concentrations of cadmium. The agglutination test conducted on the fishes exposed to cadmium revealed that the titre were higher in the exposed fishes indicating that the fishes are under stress. The study is relevant in the light that the pollutants causes sufficient stress to fish and ultimately affects its performance to harvest he benefits in the form of growths etc

Parasitological observations on prohemistomum SP, encysted matacercaria [trematoda] in nile fishes, II: experimental animals

Prohemistomum sp. encysted metacercariae were obtained from some Nile fishes. Rats infected with three different encysted metacercarial forms, differing only in the shape of cyst wall, showed that all the collected worms demonstrated the same morphological characteristics of Prohemistomum vivax. Experimental infection of rats, cats and dogs with prohemistomatid encysted metacercariae revealed that the per-patent period was 4-5 days in all experimental animals. Moreover, there was no differences in morphology of the obtained mature P. vivax due to changes of the host, except for slight variations in dimensions. Rats, cats and dogs have acted as definitive hosts for P. vivax

Enteric parasitic fauna of horses in Cairo with a trial for chemotherapeutic control of gastrointestinal nematode

Coprological examination of 262 apparently normal horses, revealed that they were infested with Fasciola spp., Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi, Strongyloides westeri, Strongylus spp., Trichuris spp. and Eimeria spp. Trichuris spp. is firstly recorded from horses in Egypt. Foals below one-year old were highly infested with all the parasites, except for Eimeria spp. Oxyuris equi and Trichuris spp were only detected in cases above one-year old. Stalions showed a comparatively higher rate of infection than mares, except for Eimeria spp. Febantel [Bayer] was tried for the control of the studied parasites. It resulted in complete absence of eggs of Strongyloides and Oxyuris spp., but it was less efficient for Parascaris equorum and Strongylus spp

Myxosoma tilapiae as a new species [Myxozoma: Myxosporea] in wild oreochromis niloticus in lower Egypt

From examination of 1328 wild 0. nilolieus [Tilapia nilotica], macroscopic and microscopic cysts were detected on the skin, gills, eyes, hepatopancreas and kidneys. Eye affection was in the cornea and splenic affection was either of the ordinary cyst forming type or of the non cyst forming type. The latter was characterized by paleness of the involves splenic part. Impression smears revealed the detection of Myxosoma spores, which were compared and discussed in details with other myxosporideans, and was considered as Myxosoma tilapiae n.sp. The spores obtained from different organs were similar in morphological status. Quantitative data on the prevalence and distribution of Myxosoma cysts was studied

Some studies on encysted metacercariae in some Nile fishes

Some Nile fishes were investigated for the prevalence of encysted metacercariae in their meat, which was 54.03% The rates of infestation were 69.57, 62.71, 46.26 and zero in Tilapia sp., Bagrus bayad, Syndontis schall and Lates niloticus respectively. Monthly prevalence of encysted metacercariae revealed that the highest prevalence was in September in case of Tilapia sp. and Bagrus bayad and in December in Syndontis schall. Also seasonal incidence showed that Tilapia was equally infected during the four seasons. Bagrus bayad showed a high incidence during autumn and in Syndontis schall was during winter. Lates niloticus was free from metacercariae