Savanna Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 3(2):151-158
In Vitro Toxicity Assessment of Glyphosate Based Herbicide on Clarias Gariepinus (African Catfish Burchell, 1822)
Nafi’u, S. A and Ibrahim, S
ABSTRACT
The current study was undertaken to assess the acute (96hr) histopathological alterations in gill and liver tissues of Clarias
gariepinus (juveniles) exposed to Glyphosate. Fish samples with mean weight range of 27.2 - 29.7g and mean length range of
10.95 -15.5cm were exposed to the 6-levels of concentrations of the herbicide (0.0, 4.50, 9.0, 13.5, 18.50 and 22.5mg/L
respectively) in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The gill and liver samples were collected and examined using standard
methods. The 96 hr lethal concentration (LC50) at 95% confidence limits was 8.098 mg/L. Significant histological changes
observed in the liver tissues include: presence of lipid granules, hepatocyte necrosis, cellular infiltration, cytoplasmic
vacuolation, haemorrhage and multifocal cellular degeneration. Lifting of epithelium thickening, distortion of the primary
lamellae, degeneration of secondary lamellae, blood congestion and massive lamellae degeneration were observed in the gill
tissues. It can be deduced that glyphosate exerted effect on the behavior, mortality profile and histology of the experimental fish.
It is here by recommended that indiscriminate use of synthetic herbicides including glyphosate, should be reduced to the barest
minimum due to their negative effect on aquatic biota such as fish and other non-target organisms.
