Alaa G.M. Osman, Khaled Y. AbouelFadl, Abd El Baset M. Abd El Reheem, Usama M. Mahmoud,Werner Kloas, Mohsen A. Moustafa
In this work, we explore new sights of biomarker research and establish the use of blood parameters and erythron profile in wild fish. Water quality assessment along the Nile course concluded higher mean values of the detected physicochemical parameters in water collected from downstream sites. The mean values of nearly all the detected haematological parameters were significantly lower in the blood of Nile tilapia and African catfish collected from downstream (contaminated) compared to upstream sites. Lower cellular and nuclear areas and cellular and nuclear shape factor were recorded in the erythrocytes of fish collected from downstream compared to those caught from upstream sites. This was confirmed by higher immature ratios of red cells in the blood of fish sampled from downstream sites. Karyorrhectic and enucleated erythrocytes were recorded to be higher in the blood of fish collected from downstream sites. The levels of all the selected biochemical variables in the blood of both fish species were recorded to be significantly higher in downstream sites. The detected blood variables and erythrocyte malformations were proven to be suitable for bio-monitoring of aquatic pollution. The results revealed speciesspecific differences in sensitivities, suggesting that Nile tilapia may serve as a more sensitive test species compared to African catfish.
