Authors : B.O. Mgbenka , H.O. Nwamba and L.L.C. Ugwu
Abstract: The Acid Phosphate Concentration (APC) of the blood serum of adult Heterobranchus bidorsalis (mean weight, 138.24�0.16 g) injected with graded concentrations of Bonny-light Crude Oil (BLCO) was studied. Two study spanned through 2 periods, the chronic toxicity (4 days) and the recovery (42 days) periods. Significant decreases (p< 0.01) in the acid phosphate concentration (g 100 mL 1) were recorded in the blood serum as BLCO concentrations in the fish increased from 10.00 to 50.00 �L g 1. Fish samples injected with 10 �L g 1 BLCO recorded highest values of serum acid phosphate than those injected with 20.00-50.00 �L g 1 BLCO. This situation was observed both at the chronic toxicity and the recovery periods. This result implies that an increase in BLCO infiltration into the fish blood might have impacted more negatively on the interaction of acid phosphate with the serum globular proteins (albumins and globulins) (enzymes) resulting in a reduction in APC values. Recorded increases in APC values during the recovery period suggested that the fish blood was apparently relieved of the toxic and lethal effects of the crude oil pollutant. The highest percent mortality recorded with the fish injected with 40.00 and 50.00 �L g 1 BLCO is consistent with the observations of other authors that pollutants induce stress and perturbations in the functional integrity of the physiological processes in fish, culminating in mortality.
B.O. Mgbenka , H.O. Nwamba and L.L.C. Ugwu , 2007. Acid Phosphate Concentration of the Blood of Adult Heterobranchus bidorsalis Injected with Graded Micro Concentrations of Bonny-Light Crude Oil . Journal of Fisheries International, 2: 222-225.