Role of fucoidan on the growth behavior and blood metabolites and toxic effects of atrazine in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (linnaeus, 1758)
Waterborne herbicides are stressful agents that threaten the productivity and safety of
finfish species. In this study, the toxicity impacts of atrazine (ATZ) and the protective role of fucoidan
were investigated on the health performance of Nile tilapia. For 40 days, the total number of 180 Nile
tilapia was assigned in four groups (triplicates, 15 fish/replicate), where the first (control) and third
groups were offered the control diet, while the second and fourth groups were offered a fucoidan
(FCN). Further, in the third and fourth groups, the water was mixed with atrazine (ATZ) at 1.39 mg/L
daily. The growth rate, FCR, and survival rate were markedly enhanced by fucoidan but severely
declined by ATZ exposure (p < 0.05). The morphological structure of the intestine in the control
fish revealed normal structure, while fucoidan-treated groups showed eminent enhancement and
branching of the intestinal villi. The intestine of ATZ-treated fish revealed deterioration and the
intestinal mucosa, inflammatory cell infiltration, and separation of lining epithelium. The highest
Hb, PCV, RBCs, WBCs, total protein, and albumin were observed in Nile tilapia fed fucoidan, but
the worst values were seen in ATZ-intoxicated fish (p < 0.05). The liver-related enzymes (ALT and
AST) and kidney function (urea and creatinine) showed impaired values by ATZ toxicity and were
regulated by dietary fucoidan. Meanwhile, fish fed fucoidan and exposed to ATZ had lower total
cholesterol and triglyceride values than fish exposed to ATZ without fucoidan feeding (p < 0.05). The
SOD, CAT, GPx, cortisol, and glucose levels were increased in ATZ-exposed fish and reduced by
fucoidan (p < 0.05). However, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced in fucoidan-fed fish
and increased in ATZ-exposed fish (p < 0.05). Altogether, dietary fucoidan is required in fish diets to
alleviate the impacts of ATZ-induced toxicity
Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) weighing 51.66 ± 2.42 g were exposed to 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% of LC50 to either lead nitrate (Pb(NO3 )2 ) or copper sulfate (CuSO4 ) for 30 days.
The study evaluated the nutritional quality and investigated the heavy metals concentration in muscle
tissues of five commercially important marine fish species, including brownspotted…
Waterborne herbicides are stressful agents that threaten the productivity and safety of
finfish species. In this study, the toxicity impacts of atrazine (ATZ) and the protective role of…