ABSTRACT
The effect of endosulfan (6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9-methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepin-3-oxide), an organochlorine pesticide, was evaluated on phagocytic (phagocytic index and percentage of active cells) and hematological parameters in Nile tilapia. Experimental data showed that an acute exposure to endosulfan (4.0 and 7.0 microg/L) induces a significant decrease in the phagocytic index and the percentage of active cells in peripherical blood of Nile tilapia. However, hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit (Hto), red blood cell count (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were not significantly altered in fish exposed to endosulfan compared with control group.
