Assessment of liver pathological alterations in yellowfin seabream (Achantopagrus latus) and Abu mullet (Liza abu) in Musa creek in response to petrochemical pullutants

Authors

1 Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences and Oceanography, Khorramshahr Marine Sciences and TechnologyUniversity, Khorramshahr- Iran

2 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ShahidChamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz-Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Musa creek, suitable place for spawning of many fish species and other organisms, is one of the most important and voluble ecosystems in the west of Iran that received so many attentions due to existents of various industries around this part of Persian Gulf. Previous studies confirmed that marine fish have collected high amounts of pollutants in this area which could be lead to sever tissue changes in these fish. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, pathological alterations of liver is used for evaluating of contaminants effects on two fish species including of yellowfin seabream and abu mullet in Musa creek. METHODS: In this study, 50 yellowfin seabreams and 50 abu mullets were collected from five sampling sites in Mussa creek including: 1. Petrochemical, 2. Gaafari, 3. Magidieh, 4. Ghazaleh and 5. Zangi. The samples were taken from the liver after fish dissection and were fixed in bouin's solution. The liver samples were then studied based on the routine histological methods. RESULTS: The pathological changes in the liver included vacuolation of hepatocytes, nuclear hypertrophy, focal necrosis, dilation of sinusoid and diss spaces. The amount of histopathological alteration index (HAI) for liver of both species was significantly higher at the Petrochemical station than other sites (p<0.05). The least amount of HAI was related to Zangi station. CONCLUSIONS: The results of present study showed that the alternations of liver tissue structure in Achantopagrus latus and Liza abu caused by the Musa creek contamination and there is close relation between amounts of this alterations and the environmental pollution.

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