Hematological Parameters and Serum Biochemistry of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Vestaline？ (Pendimethalin) Herbicide

The study was carried out to determine the effects of sub lethal concentrations of vestaline？ (pendimethalin) herbicide to haematological and serum biochemistry of juveniles of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) using static bioassays. The toxicity was carried out using 180 healthy and active fish of mean weight of 27.97±0.03 g which were divided into six treatments with each treatment having ten fish and the setup was in triplicate. The fish were exposed to (1.89 mg/l, 3.79 mg/l, 5.68mg/l, 7.57mg/l. 9.46mg/l and 0.00 mg/l)) concentrations of Vestaline？ (Pendimethalin) herbicide for a period of eight weeks during which the fish were fed at 5% of their body weight twice daily. Data obtained were analyzed for descriptive statistics (mean and standard error of means).The data were further subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P< 0.05 using Minitab. Results showed that Haematological parameters reduced significantly (P<0.05) in amount of HCT, Hb and RBC with increase in concentration an indication of Anaemia. While WBC increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in concentration. All were dose dependant. The results of Serum Biochemistry showed significant difference (P<0.05) in all the parameters determined. There was significant (P<0.05) decrease in Total protein and Albumin while Cholesterol, Alanine aminoTransferase, Aspartate aminoTransferase and Creatine all increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in concentration. Vestaline？ (Pendimethalin) herbicide from this study is toxic on Clarias gariepinus juveniles so its use around aquatic environment should be done with care