Histopathological alterations in Van fish (Alburnus tarichi Güldenstädt, 1814) exposed to tebuconazole

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tebuconazole (TEB) is one of the most commonly used fungicides in the Lake Van Basin in the Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey, which is one of the largest alkaline lakes in the world. In this study, the effects of TEB on the Van fish, the only vertebrate species living in Lake Van were investigated. The TEB was administered at a dose of 2.5 mg/L to the Van fish, which were examined histologically via the gill, liver, and kidney tissues after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure to TEB. Normal histological structure was observed in the gill, liver, and kidney tissues in the control group. Epithelial hyperplasia, epithelial necrosis, epithelial lifting, lamellar fusion, and an increase in mucus cell counts were observed in the gill tissues of the fish exposed to TEB. Dilatation and congestion of the sinusoids, melano-macrophages aggregation, and, focal necrosis were detected in the liver tissues of the fish exposed to TEB. Bleeding in the kidney tissues, hyaline droplet degeneration, contraction of the glomerulus and enlargement of the space within the Bowman’s capsule were observed. The findings of the present study indicated that sublethal concentrations of TEB result in histopathologic changes in the gill, liver, and kidney.