Toxicity effects of Kano central abattoir effluent on Clarias gariepinus juveniles

Abstract

The contamination of water from rivers or land by effluent of abattoir could cause a pronounced health and environmental hazard. The present study was aimed at determining the acute effects abattoir effluents on Clarias gariepinus juveniles. It involved the determination of physicochemical parameters of the water and the hematological parameters of Clarias gariepinus juveniles. In addition, histopathological features of gills, kidney and liver were assessed. From the study, it was observed that abattoir effluent does not cause a significant change in temperature of the water but reduction in pH and DO values across the groups. Thus, it has induced a remarkable effects on the hematological parameters by causing a significant elevation in MCV, PLT and MCH and reduction in WBC count, RBC count, HGB, LYM and MPV (p < 0.05) than the control. These have led to pronounced changes in the pathologies of gills and liver which include degenerative changes in the oedema and secondary lamellae, cytoplasmic vacuolation of the hepatic tissue respectively. However, the renal tissues were unaffected. It is therefore be concluded that, abbatoir effluent posses some toxicological properties which have been observed in blood, gills and liver tissues of Clarias gariepinus juveniles. Government and other stakeholders should monitor and regulate discharge of the effluent into nearby water bodies.