Jimena Cazenave

Multiple biomarkers responses in Prochilodus lineatus allowed assessing changes in the water quality of Salado River basin (Santa Fe, Argentina)

This field study assessed water quality of Salado River basin by using a set of biomarkers in the fish Prochilodus lineatus. Multiple biomarkers were measured, including morphological indexes (condition factor, liver somatic index), hematological (red and white blood cells) and biochemical (glucose, total protein and cholinesterase activity) parameters. Besides, detoxication and oxidative stress markers (antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation) were measured in liver, gills and kidney. Despite water quality assessment did not show marked differences among sites, biomarkers responses indicate that fish are living under stressful environmental conditions. According to multivariate analysis glucose, glutathione S-transferase activity, lipid peroxidation levels and the count of white blood cells are key biomarkers to contribute to discrimination of sites. So, we suggest use those biomarkers in future monitoring of freshwater aquatic systems.

Biochemical Stress Responses in Tissues of the Cichlid Fish Cichlasoma dimerus Exposed to a Commercial Formulation of Endosulfan

Median lethal concentration (LC50) and sublethal effects of the commercial endosulfan formulation Zebra Ciagro® on the fish Cichlasoma dimerus were studied. The 96-h LC50 was estimated as 17.7xa0μg/L. In order to investigate sublethal effects, fish were exposed to 25% and 50% LC1 (3.4 and 6.8xa0μg/L, respectively). Endosulfan (ED) significantly increased the hemoglobin concentration and white blood cell count after 96xa0h. Differential leukocytes count was also altered, due to an increase in the percentage of neutrophils in exposed fish. The hepatopancreatic tissue of fish under ED treatment showed a decrease in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and an increase in alkaline phosphatase. Lipid peroxidation levels in the 6.8-μg/L ED-containing group were higher than those in control fish for all organs tested (gills, hepatopancreas, and brain).