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Blood chemistry of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1757) under the impact of water pollution

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Abstract

The present study is an attempt to relate environmental factors ofambient water to the physiology of the cichlid, Oreochromisniloticus. Fish were collected at 3 stations along Lake Maryûtand a fourth one in an authorized hatchery as reference. Water analysis showedthat many attributes of the water quality, in particular in the main basin,werefar beyond admissible levels. In response, functional damage of the heart andliver in polluted fish was pointed out in view of the elevated serum enzymes(alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, alkalinephosphatase and cholinesterase). Alkaline phosphatase seemed to potentiallyindicate excess phosphate in ambient water, whereas, aspartate aminotransferasewas suppressed in fish caught from waters with the highest metalconcentrations.Serologic data of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolites drew attention tothe adverse effects on liver, heart and kidney functions of industrial andmunicipal discharges into the fishes habitats.

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Authors
  1. Khadiga G. Adham
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  2. Hania M. Ibrahim
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  3. Sherifa S. Hamed
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  4. Ramadan A. Saleh
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Adham, K.G., Ibrahim, H.M., Hamed, S.S. et al. Blood chemistry of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1757) under the impact of water pollution. Aquatic Ecology 36, 549–557 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021137122046

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