See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/358734155

Effects of Pesticides on Haematological Parameters of Fish: Recent Updates

Article in Journal of Scientific Research · January 2022

DOI: 10.37398/JSR.2022.660129

CITATIONS READS
14 1,414

4 authors:

Ashwini Kumar Nigam Manoj Kumar Singh

Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi National Centre for Disease Control, India
24 PUBLICATIONS 341 CITATIONS 18 PUBLICATIONS 94 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Brajesh Kumar Sinha Jalaj Gour

Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi University of Allahabad
2 PUBLICATIONS 26 CITATIONS 24 PUBLICATIONS 244 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Ashwini Kumar Nigam on 23 February 2022.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Volume 66, Issue 1, 2022

Journal of Scientific Research

of
The Banaras Hindu University

Effects of Pesticides on Haematological

Parameters of Fish: Recent Updates
Brajesh Kumar Sinha1, Jalaj Kumar Gour2, Manoj Kumar Singh3 and Ashwini Kumar Nigam1*

1Department of Zoology, Udai Pratap College, Varanasi – 221002, Uttar Pradesh, India ([email protected]; [email protected]*)
2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj – 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India
([email protected])
3
Centre for Non Communicable Diseases (NCD), National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi – 110054, India ([email protected])
*Corresponding author – contact: +91 9415884451

Abstract: Since the blood takes part directly or indirectly in occupied significant and inseparable association with the
various physiological processes of the body, haematological advance agricultural achievements in our country. In pesticide
parameters are considered important biomarker of alterations in production and consumption, India is the biggest country in Asia
metabolism or physiology. Indiscriminate use of pesticides has
and twelfth in the world while at fourth position for export (Devi
polluted different water bodies with adverse effects on the health of
et al., 2017).
aquatic biota including fishes. Toxicological effects of
agrochemicals including pesticides can be observed by monitoring In past few decades, a considerable number of researches
haematological parameters. Present review deals with study of have been carried out in relation to the adverse effects of toxic
effects of pesticides on the important blood parameters such as pesticides on environment and biodiversity. These chemicals are
erythrocyte count, haemoglobin content, packed cell volume, particularly the persistent ones and bring about disturbances in
erythrocyte sedimentation rate, absolute values, leucocyte count, ecological balance in nature and various kinds of health hazards
coagulation time and thrombocyte count of freshwater fish species. by leaving residues. A very small portion of total pesticides is in
The review also aims to explain possible mechanism of pesticide fact effective in killing or controlling target pest, while
induced alterations in the parameters and deleterious consequences
remaining large amount is released in the environment including
on fish health. This could help to explore the future prospects of
aquatic ecosystem to have negative impact on non-target species
research in the concerned field. Haematological parameters of fish
could thus serve as sensitive index to examine health status and to (Tudi et al., 2021; Özkara et al., 2016). There are overwhelming
ascertain the toxic effects on ecosystem under pesticide exposure in evidences depicting the adverse effects of pesticides on aquatic
the era of increased pesticide utilisation. ecosystem (Barlas 1999; Aktar et al., 2009). They pollute water
by discharging surplus formulation after spraying operations into
Index Terms: Fish, Pollution, Pesticides, Haematological rivers, ponds and lakes, pouring the washing water of spraying
parameters, Toxic effects equipments into water bodies; extending spread crops to the
water’s edge, accidental spillage of agrochemical formulations,
I. INTRODUCTION run-off and erosion from treated areas, fallout from air pollution
Now-a-days, detrimental ecological consequences posed by by agrochemical industrial effluents etc.
indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture are of great Water pollution is the cause of death of several interdependent
concern in general. Moreover, the increasing trend of Indian aquatic forms of life and also a source of bio-magnification of
population requires self-sufficiency in food production by persistent pesticides. This can result in local effect on
improved tools and techniques and effective chemicals. environment and mortality of fish. Fishes are particularly
Pesticides are one of those agrochemicals that are widely used in sensitive to any change in physicochemical as well as biological
agriculture to control different types of pests e.g. insects, characteristics of aquatic bodies. The toxic chemicals in aquatic
unwanted weeds, parasitic nematodes and fungus (Tudi et al., environment are proved to be dangerous for the survival of fish
2021). They are being extensively used not only in the (Caldas et al. 1999; Lamai et al. 1999; Sayeed et al. 2000;
developed countries but also in developing countries to increase Isenring, 2010; Zacharia, 2011). Therefore, fish are regarded as
food production and its quality. Thus the pesticides have very sensitive biological indicators of any adverse change in the

DOI: 10.37398/JSR.2022.660129 269

 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 66, Issue 1, 2022

aquatic ecosystem. previously reported scientific information on the changes in

Moreover, there are reports of mortality of large number of haematological parameters of various fish species under the
aquatic animals in different parts of the world by pesticides influence of different pesticides. The review would also serve as
intoxication. Fish mortality due to pesticides like malathion starting point for future researches to unravel the unexplored and
(organophosphorus pesticide) and aldrin (organochlorine least understood facts of fish haematology under normal or
stressed conditions as well as under exposure of newly emerging
pesticide) groups of chemicals are on the record (Jayaraj et al.,
pesticides and other environmental contaminants.
2016; Murthy et al., 2013; Sabra and Mehana, 2015). Types of
effects of different pesticides can be variable to a greater extent II. HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF FISH UNDER
on fish population. Survival, growth and reproduction of fish are PESTICIDAL EFFECT
badly affected either by direct death or due to starvation or by Haematological parameters of fish are becoming
destruction of food organisms (Prashanth, 2011; Murthy et al., indispensable tool to assess the impact of pesticides on fish.
2013). Now, it has been established fact that all pesticides are Further, it is prerequisite to understand and estimate normal
potentially lethal to the fishes even at relatively low range of haematological parameters of fish under unexposed
concentration (Ullah and Zorriehzahra, 2015). condition. A review of literature reveals a great variation in the
Further, fish constitute a basic vertebrate fauna with protein haematological parameters of different fish species (Table 1).
rich flesh containing all the 20/22 amino acids. Fishes with good Pronounced variations in the parameters of the same fish species
quality protein and essential omega fatty acids occupy an have also been reported by different authors that could be due to
important place in human nutrition as they have high differences in the length and weight of fish sample which they
used in their studies. For instance, highly variable data for TEC
digestibility, biological value and growth promoting value
(2.16 – 5.96 ×106 mm-3) and TLC (11.64 – 36.22 ×104 mm-3) in
(Nurullah et al. 2003, Ahmed et al., 2020). Therefore, utmost
Cyprinus carpio have been reported in different studies
importance should be given to evaluate the adverse effects of (Neelima et al., 2015; Vaiyanan et al., 2015; Rao et al., 2017).
toxic pesticides on fish population so as to fulfil the demand of Such variations could be attributed to differences in size and
healthy fish. Pesticide resistance is also emerging with the weight of experimental fish used by those researchers (Table 1).
advent of each pesticide in the field. Therefore, this is ever Therefore, these parameters are also subjected to high degree of
ending race among pest, new pesticide and pesticide resistance variation under the influence of different intrinsic factors (viz.
(Le Goff and Giraudo, 2019) which further necessitates age, body size, sex, reproductive cycle, feeding habits,
increased study on the hazard and risk associated with emerging nutritional state) as well as extrinsic factors (viz. season,
pesticides on non-target species such as fish. photoperiod, temperature, dissolved oxygen, water quality,
stress, fish density etc.) (Ahmed et al., 2020). Due to such
Significant changes in the internal environment e.g.
variability, it is very important to maintain all the influencing
biochemical characteristics, tissue integrity, immune status,
factors constant while studying the effect of toxic chemicals and
blood parameters of fish serve as good biomarkers of stress,
pesticides on fish haematology.
toxicant/pesticide exposure, disease onset or any harmful change
A comprehensive review on changes in haematological
in water quality. Well established biomarkers studied in various
fish species include histopathology, tissue biochemistry, parameters as bioindicators of insecticide exposure in teleosts
hormones and haematology (Joseph and Raj, 2011). Out of has been presented by Singh and Srivastava (2010), a decade
these, study on haematological parameters as biomarker is least before. Therefore, focus of the present review is to encompass
invasive as this does not often require killing of fish to obtain recent updates in the field of fish haematology and its relation
blood samples. with pesticidal exposure in the environment. In this connection,
The blood may provide accurate information about the effect a summary of most affected haematological parameters studied
of pesticides on their exposure in the environment, and in most in past decade are presented in figure 1 and in tables 2, 3 and 4.
of the cases, haematological parameters provide significant Important haematological parameters of fish exposed to different
initial alarm signal of altered physiological condition of fish due
pesticides are discussed under following sections.
to stress, pollution, pesticide exposure or infection. Important
haematological parameters of fish include total erythrocyte count A. Erythrocyte dependent parameters
(TEC), haemoglobin content, packed cell volume (PCV), 1) Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC)
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), absolute values, total
It is an estimation of total red blood cells count or total
leucocyte count (TLC), coagulation time and thrombocyte count
erythrocyte count (TEC) that is a quantitative measure of the
(Singh and Srivastava, 2010). Change in the quality of the
aquatic environment can be easily assessed by studying the population of red blood cells in circulation. Besides
changes in these parameters of fish. In this way, it is a very erythrocyte count, morphology of RBC is also an important
important tool to study the toxicological effects of pesticides on blood parameter that is altered by toxic effect of pesticides.
fish and there are a significant number of reports available in this Teleost erythrocytes are nucleated and are of elliptical and
regard. biconcave shape. A significant decrease in the total
In the present review, attempt has been made to compile erythrocyte count in different fishes under the influence of

270
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 66, Issue 1, 2022

various pesticides is reported by Mishra and Srivastava (1984) decreased TEC in Clarias gariepinus (George et al., 2017),
and Lal et al. (1986) in Heteropneustes fossilis due to Labeo rohita (Jasmin et al., 2018). Likewise, in recent
malathion; and by Kumari and Yadava (1988) in Clarias decade, pyrethroid insecticides cypermethrin, deltamethrin
batrachus. and permethrin have been reported to reduce TEC in different
fish species (Jayaprakash and Shettu, 2013; Neelima et al.,
2015; David et al., 2015; Rao et al., 2017, 2018).
Significant reduction in erythrocyte count in fishes under
pesticidal effect is the reflection of an anaemic condition.
Anaemia could be due to destruction of erythrocytes by
reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are enormously
produced in response to toxic effect of pesticides (Bloom and
Brandt, 2008). Erythropoietin is an important factor
stimulating erythropoiesis to maintain normal circulating RBC
count. Low erythrocyte count in Sarotherodon mossambicus
has been associated with reduced erythropoietin content due to
toxicity of an herbicide diuron (Reddy et al., 1992). Based
on these reports, a mechanism of alteration in TEC has been
presented in figure 3. Prolonged anaemia may be life
threatening and often reduce fertility and fecundity of fish.
Figure 1. A summary of important haematological parameters of fish However, significant increase in total RBC count has been
studied under the pesticidal exposure. (ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation
rate; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MCH, mean corpuscular reported in Prochilodus lineatus exposed to herbicide –
haemoglobin; MCHC, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) clomazone (Pereira et al., 2013) and in Labeo rohita exposed
to nicotine-mimicking insecticide imidacloprid (Patel and
Alterations in shape and size of erythrocytes of fishes under Parikh, 2015). An acute increase in RBC may occur after
pesticidal effects have been reported by Frank (1980) in Salmo splenic contraction due to adrenergic stimulus in response to
gairdneri and Cyprinus carpio; Kumari and Yadava (1988) in pesticide stress (Heath, 1995).
Clarias batrachus; and by Sawhney and Johal (2000) in
2) Haemoglobin (Hb) content
Channa punctatus. Pyrethroid insecticide induced decline in
erythrocyte count has been observed in C. carpio due to Haemoglobin is a respiratory pigment present in blood
cypermethrin (Reddy and Bashamohideen, 1989; Dorucu and RBC. In fish, it carries oxygen from gills to the tissues and
Girgin, 2001), H. fossilis due to deltamethrin (Ghosh and thereby helps in cellular respiration. Haemoglobin content
Banerjee, 1992), Ctenopharyngodon idella due to provides an indirect estimate of the number of RBCs in the
fenvalerate (Shakoori et al., 1996) and in Sebastes blood and is measured in g/dl. Significant decline in
schegeli due to cypermethrin (Jee et al., 2005). haemoglobin (Hb) content of fishes under pesticidal influence
Comparative analysis of current reports present in the have been reported by Frank (1980) in Salmo gairdneri and
literature reveals that the most investigated agrochemicals for Cyprinus carpio due to different pesticides; Mukhopadhyay
their marked detrimental effects on fish haematology are and Dehadrai (1980) in Clarias batrachus due to malathion;
organophosphorus insecticides followed by pyrethroid Verma et al. (1981) in Saccobranchus fossilis and Mystus
insecticides and other pesticides including herbicides and vittatus due to thiotox and malathion; Matthiessen (1982) in
fungicides (Fig. 2). In addition, this analysis also suggests that Tilapia spp due to endosulfan; Dieter (1982) in Herotilapia
many organophosphates cause significant decline in TEC in multispinosa and Tilapia leucosticte due to organophosphate
most of the fish species investigated. For instance, significant Lebaycid®; and by Natarajan (1984) in Channa striatus due to
decrease in erythrocyte count was observed in Channa metasystox.
punctatus exposed to chlorpyrifos (Ali and Kumar, 2012), In recent decade, organophosphate induced anaemia due to
Oncorhynchus mykiss exposed to Diazinon (Far et al., 2012), significant decrease in Hb content has been reported in
Barbonymus gonionotus due to quinolphos (Mostakin et al., Barbonymus gonionotus exposed to quinolphos (Mostakim et
2015), Cyprinus carpio due to monocrotophos (Vaiyanan et al., 2015), Cyprinus carpio exposed to monocrotophos
al., 2015), Ctenopharyngodon idella due to dichlorvos (Vaiyanan et al., 2015), Ctenopharyngodon idella exposed to
(Kumari et al., 2018), and in Oreochromis mossambicus due dichlorvos (Kumari et al. 2018), and in Oreochromis
to chlorpyrifos (Ghayyur et al., 2019) (Table 2). Exposure to mossambicus exposed to chlorpyrifos (Ghayyur et al., 2019)
herbicides (atrazine and metolachlor) and fungicide (Table 2). Such anaemic conditions have also been observed
(difenoconazole) also induces anaemic condition due to in fishes exposed to herbicide clomazone (Pereira et al., 2013)

271
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 66, Issue 1, 2022

and fungicide difenoconazole (Jasmin et al., 2018). Similar deltamethrin and permethrin (Jayaprakash and Shettu, 2013;
trend of reduction in Hb content was reported in several fish Neelima et al., 2015; David et al., 2015; Rao et al., 2017,
species exposed to pyrethroid insecticides cypermethrin, 2018).

Table 1. Normal range of haematological parameters such as total erythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin (Hb) content, packed cell volume (PCV),
mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total
leucocyte count (TLC) and differential leucocyte counts (neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes) of different fish
species as reported by various workers in the field.
Fish species TEC Hb PCV MCV MCH MCHC TLC Neutrop Eosino Basop Lymp Monoc References
(with length and (×106 content (%) (fl) (pg) (g%) (×104 hils phils hils hocyt ytes
weight) mm-3) (g/100 mm-3) (%) (%) (%) es (%)
ml)
(%)
Barbonymus 5.19 12.57 46.22 89.05 24.21 27.19 2.84 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Mostakin et
gonionotus ±0.54 ±0.23 ±2.16 ±4.12 ±1.89 ±1.43 ±0.13 al., 2015
(8.11±1.44cm;
5.9 ± 3.61g)
Channa punctatus 3.165 12.537 34.366 108.6 39.62 36.48 18.80 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Jayaprakash
(18.56 ± 2.4g) ±0.023 ±0.309 ±0.23 ±0.01 ±0.10 ±0.88 ±0.55 and Shettu,
2013
Channa punctatus 2.120 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. 6.12 62.14 5.25 4.11 22.25 6.25 Parkash,
(N.D.) ±0.062 ±0.22 ±0.36 ±0.42 ±0.30 ±0.56 ±0.36 2016
Channa punctatus 3.78 12.96 33.80 N.D. N.D. N.D. 64.87 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Ali and
(14 ± 3.0cm ±0.26 ±0.44 ±0.53 ±0.63 Kumar, 2012
30 ± 2.0g)
Cirrhinus mrigala 1.773 7.386 25.652 71.63 22.961 22.53 10.47 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. David et al.,
(15-20cm; 20-30g) ±0.01 ±0.01 ±0.01 ±0.11 ±0.12 ±0.04 ±0.01 2015
Clarias batrachus 2.81 9.06 N.D. 91.23 33.03 38.16 0.143 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Shahi and
(16 ± 2cm; 35 ± 5g) ±0.23 ±0.05 ±0.09 ±0.13 ±0.05 ±0.81 Singh, 2014
Ctenopharyngodon 3.18 9.53 28.62 90.06 29.78 33.36 14.17 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Kumari et
idella al., 2018*
(3 to 5cm; 4 to 5g)
Ctenopharyngodon 5.02 20.44 61.8 244 84.2 68.2 8.50 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Rao et al.,
idella ±0.3 ±0.98 ±41 ±6.0 ±7.0 ±4.6 ±0.65 2018
(3 to 5cm; 4 to 5g)
Cyprinus carpio 2.16 0.46 3.2 N.D. N.D. N.D. 36.22 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Vaiyanan et
(6 ±2cm; 6 ±2.5g) ±0.04 ±0.33 ±0.33 ±0.21 al., 2015
Cyprinus carpio 02.98 07.06 27.18 62.19 20.54 28.32 11.64 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Neelima et
(6 –8cm; 6.5 –7.5g) ±0.18 ±0.64 ±0.34 ±0.22 ±0.14 ±0.46 ±0.15 al., 2015
Cyprinus carpio 5.96 14.12 54.36 124.38 41.08 56.64 23.28 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Rao et al.,
(3 – 5cm; 3 to 6g) ±0.36 ±1.28 ±0.68 ±0.40 ±0.28 ±0.92 ±0.30 2017
Heteropneustes 4.22 4.23 73.75 178.5 21.5 5.73 10.85 31.78 12.48 1.88 25.32 27.78 Tiwari et
fossilis ±0.02 ±0.13 ±1.75 5±1.8 ±1.09 ±0.002 ±0.78 ±1.34 ±1.10 ±0.30 ±1.26 ±1.62 al., 2017
(18 ± 2cm; 41 ± 2g)
Labeo rohita 1.01 2.66 14.0 137.2 26.3 18.9 6.64 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Jasmin et
(17.31±2.20cm; ±0.10 ±0.21 ±1.15 ±8.65 ±4.21 ±1.11 ±1.12 al., 2018
111.25±12.13g)
Labeo rohita 0.7 3.5 9.8 139.9 35.7 50.00 6.23 79.1 N.D. N.D. 102.4 N.D. Patel and
(25 ±3cm; 110 ± 5g) ±0.003 ±0.029 ±0.03 ±1.34 ±0.69 ±0.05 ±0.56 ±0.36 ±0.11 Parikh,
2015
Oncorhynchus mykiss 1.02 63.62 0.34 331.14 62.19 199.02 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Li et al.,
(264±40g) ±0.16 ±10.63 ±0.08 ±72.54 ±4.83 ±54.36 2010
Oncorhynchus mykiss 1.15 7.2 40.7 356.9 63.6 17.69 1.272 16.1 N.D. N.D. 82.8 N.D. Far et al.,
(2 ± 0.1g) ±0.165 ±0.58 ±3.9 ±31 ±5.1 ±5.1 ±0.10 ±4.8 ±4.5 2012
Oreochromis 1.95 7.34 23.3 137.2 43.43 29.53 1.047 17.85 N.D. N.D. 65.49 N.D. Patel and
mossambicus ±0.04 ±0.19 ±0.21 ±0.42 ±0.46 ±0.29 ±0.09 ±0.18 ±0.18 Parikh,
(12 ±2cm; 25 ±1.9g) 2015
(Abbreviation: mm, millimetre; g, gram; ml, millilitre; fl, femtolitre; pg, pictogram; N.D., not determined by authors in their study. Values are mean
± standard deviation/error; *, standard deviation/error is not reported

272
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

Table 2. Summary of recent updates on alterations in total erythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin (Hb) content, packed cell volume (PCV) and
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in different fish species exposed to various pesticides.
Fish species Pesticide Total Hb PCV ESR References
erythrocyte content
count
Oncorhynchus mykiss Carbamazepine No change No No N.D. Li et al., 2010
change change
Channa punctatus Chlorpyrifos    N.D. Ali and Kumar, 2012

Oncorhynchus mykiss Diazinon    N.D. Far et al., 2012

Cyprinus carpio Fenthion   N.D.  Muralidharan, 2012

Channa punctatus Deltamethrin     Jayaprakash and Shettu,

2013
Prochilodus lineatus Clomazone-based    N.D. Pereira et al., 2013
herbicide – Gamit®
500
Clarias batrachus Mancozeb   N.D. N.D. Shahi and Singh, 2014

Cirrhinus mrigala Deltamethrin    N.D. David et al., 2015

Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Diazinon No change   N.D. Hedayati and Niazie, 2015

Barbonymus gonionotus Quinolphos    N.D. Mostakin et al., 2015

Cyprinus carpio Cypermethrin    N.D. Neelima et al., 2015

Oreochromis mossambicus Imidacloprid    N.D. Patel and Parikh, 2015

Labeo rohita Imidacloprid    N.D. Patel and Parikh, 2015

Cyprinus carpio Monocrotophos     Vaiyanan et al., 2015

Clarias gariepinus Atrazine and    N.D. George et al., 2017

Metolachlor
Cyprinus carpio Permethrin    N.D. Rao et al., 2017
(technical grade)
Labeo rohita Difenoconazole and    N.D. Jasmin et al., 2018
thiamethoxam
Ctenopharyngodon idella Dichlorvos    N.D. Kumari et al., 2018

Ctenopharyngodon idella Deltamethrin    N.D. Rao et al., 2018

(technical grade)
Oreochromis mossambicus Chlorpyrifos    N.D. Ghayyur et al., 2019
(Abbreviations and symbols: N.D., not determined by authors in their study; , significant increase; , significant decrease)

Decrease in Hb content in fish could be due to either its

3) Packed Cell Volume (PCV)
destruction or reduced synthesis (Mostakim et al., 2015).
It is an estimation of percentage/proportion of RBC in
Oxidative damage caused by ROS under pesticide stress may
circulating blood. It is also called haematocrit value. The
lead to oxidation of Hb molecules (Bloom and Brandt, 2008)
packed cell volume (PCV) of fishes after pesticidal treatment
thereby reducing its oxygen carrying capacity. Another aspect
have been studied by Mahajan and Juneja (1979) in Channa
of toxic effect of pesticides is the disturbance in enzyme
punctatus due to aldrin; Frank (1980) in Salmo gairdneri and
system responsible for conversion of methaemoglobin into
Cyprinus carpio due to different pesticides; Mukhopadhyay
haemoglobin. Accumulation of methaemoglobin accompanied
and Dehadrai (1980) in Clarias batrachus due to malathion;
with hypoxia has been observed in S. mossambicus exposed to
Verma et al. (1982) in Mystus vittatus due to different
carbamate insecticide sevin (Manthirasalam 1993; Singh and
pesticides; Hilney et al. (1983) in Anguilla vulgaris and Mugil
Srivastava, 2010) (Table 2; Fig. 3).

273
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

cephalus due to organochlorines – endrin and DDT; and by (Jayaprakash and Shettu, 2013). Vaiyanan et al. (2015) in
Dabral and Chaturvedi (1984) in Heteropneustes fossilis due Cyprinus carpio reported significant decrease in ESR value
to organophosphate folidol. Recently, Pereira et al. (2013) in due to the toxic effect of monocrotophos (Table 2).
Prochilodus, Vaiyanan et al. (2015) in Cyprinus carpio, However, Mukhopadhyay and Dehadrai (1980) have
Mostakim et al. (2015) in Barbonymus gonionotus, Kumari et reported unaltered ESR in Clarias batrachus exposed to
al. (2018) in Ctenopharyngodon idella, and Jasmin et al. malathion; and Verma et al. (1982) have observed decreased
(2018) in Labeo rohita reported significant decrease in PCV ESR in Mystus vittatus exposed to different pesticides. An
under the influence of different classes of pesticides including insignificant decrease in ESR has also been observed in C.
organophosphates (Fig. 2). batrachus exposed to sublethal concentration of endosulfan
Further, pyrethroid induced concomitant decrease in TEC, (Venkateshwarlu et al. 1990). In recent decade, decreased
Hb content and PCV has been observed in C. carpio due to ESR has been observed in Cyprinus carpio exposed to
cypermethrin (Reddy and Bashamohideen, 1989; Dorucu and fenthion for 60 days (Muralidharan, 2012).
Girgin, 2001), H. fossilis due to deltamethrin (Ghosh and Altered ESR is often associated with certain physiological
Banerjee, 1992), Ctenopharyngodon idella due to fenvalerate distress in fish. There is a negative correlation between ESR
(Shakoori et al., 1996), and in Sebastes schegeli due to and total erythrocyte count (TEC) i.e. lower the TEC and
cypermethrin (Jee et al., 2005). Decrease in these parameters higher will be the ESR (Fig. 3). In addition, increased
in pesticide exposed fish could be either due to shrinkage or concentration of certain plasma proteins such as fibrinogen
hemolysis of RBCs leading to anaemia (Mostakim et al., and haemolysis may also contribute to increase in ESR (Jagtap
2015) or due to disruption of haematopoietic tissues and Mali, 2012). Increased ESR is considered as a strong
(Vaiyanan et al., 2015) (Table 2). indicator of tissue damage (Britton, 1969).
On the other hand, simultaneous increase in Hb content and
PCV values have been reported in Hypophthalmichthys
molitrix exposed to an organophosphate diazinon (Hedayati
and Niazie, 2015) and in Labeo rohita exposed to nicotine-
mimicking insecticide imidacloprid (Patel and Parikh, 2015).
Elevated Hb content along with increased PCV value is
considered compensatory mechanism to increase oxygen
carrying capacity of blood to meet metabolic under stress
conditions in fish (Gbore et al., 2006).
4) Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
It is the rate at which RBCs in uncoagulated whole blood
descends in a standardized tube over a period of one hour. In
general, ESR is a non-specific sickness indicator and often
depicts the state of inflammation as well as infection
(Tishkowski and Gupta, 2020). Increased erythrocyte Figure 2. Frequency (%) of reports (based on literature) showing
sedimentation rate (ESR) in fishes under the influence of alterations in total erythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin (Hb)
pesticide has been reported by Srivastava and Mishra (1983) content, packed cell volume (PCV) and total leucocyte count (TLC)
in Heteropneustes fossilis exposed to fenthion; Kumari and in fish exposed to organophosphate, pyrethroid insecticides,
Yadava (1988) in Clarias batrachus due to various pesticides; herbicides and other pesticides. Upright bars above baseline show
Ahmad and Ahsan (1989) in Amphipnous cuchia exposed to reports of significant increase in parameters whereas inverted bars
below the baseline show reports of significant decline in parameters.
carbaryl; Singh et al. (1992) in H. fossilis exposed to sublethal
Most investigated pesticides are organophosphates followed by
concentration of propoxur; Swarnlata (1995) in C. batrachus
pyrethroids insecticides, herbicides and others including fungicides.
exposed to carbaryl and carbofuran; Nath and Banerjee Majority of pesticides have tendency to reduce TEC, Hb and PCV
(1999) in Anabas testudineus exposed to Nuvan®; and by leading to anaemia, and to elevate TLC leading to leucocytosis in
Kumar et al. (1999) in H. fossilis when subjected to fish. (Symbols: , increase; , decrease)
deltamethrin for 30 days.
5) Absolute values
A review of recent literature in the field also points towards
the elevated ESR in different groups of fish exposed to toxic Absolute values are studied in terms of three parameters –
pesticides. For instance, significantly increased ESR has been MCV (mean corpuscular volume), MCH (mean corpuscular
reported in Channa punctatus exposed to sub lethal haemoglobin) and MCHC (mean corpuscular haemoglobin
concentrations of deltamethrin for 15, 30 and 45 days concentration) (Wintrobe, 1967). MCV defines the size of the
RBC. It is a measure of the average volume of a red blood

274
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

corpuscle (RBC). MCH is the average mass or amount of the size and shape of RBCs which are called anisocytosis and
haemoglobin per RBC in a sample of blood. It`s value is poikilocytosis, respectively. Alteration in absolute values may
decreased in hypochromic anaemia. also be characterised by the normocytic RBCs of normal shape
and size with normal MCV values, enlarged macrocytic RBCs
with higher MVC values or by the small microcytic RBCs
with lower MCV values. Likewise, on the basis of
haemoglobin (Hb) content, erythrocytes are also categorised
into three classes – normochromic with normal Hb content,
hypochromic with little amount of Hb and hyperchromic
RBCs with higher levels of Hb. Pesticide induced changes in
these parameters in fish may occur due to interference with
erythropoiesis or haemopoiesis or iron content.

Figure 3. A proposed mechanism of alterations in the total

erythrocyte count, haemoglobin content, and packed cell volume
(PCV) of fish under pesticidal exposure. Pesticide toxicity may
cause increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, decreased
erythropoietin synthesis and hemolysis, which could result in
reduction in erythrocyte count and haemoglobin contents leading to Figure 4. Frequency (%) of reports (based on literature) showing
anaemia and subsequent hypoxia in fish. Reduced erythrocyte also alterations in mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular
results in increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). (Symbols: haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration
, significant increase; , significant decrease) (MCHC) of fish exposed to organophosphate, pyrethroid insecticides,
herbicides and other pesticides. Upright bars above baseline show
MCHC defines average concentration of haemoglobin in a reports of significant increase in parameters whereas inverted bars
below the baseline show reports of significant decline in parameters.
given volume of RBC or it indicates the percentage situation
Different pesticides have both decreasing as well as increasing effect
of RBC with haemoglobin.
on MCV, MCH and MCHC depending upon fish species. (for details,
Studies on MCV, MCH and MCHC values in several please see the main text and Table 3) (Symbols: , increase; ,
teleostean fish spp. treated with sublethal concentrations of decrease)
various organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides have
shown that there is no fixed pattern of variation in absolute Increase in the size of RBCs has been reported by Kumari and
values (Fig. 4). Increased absolute values in fishes after Yadava (1988) in C. batrachus due to certain pesticides.
pesticidal and other agrochemical treatment have been However, decreased MCV values showing microcytic RBCs
reported by Lone and Javaid (1976) in Channa punctatus due have been reported in L. rohita under the effect of chlordane
to some organophosphorus insecticides; Mahajan and Juneja (Bansal et al., 1979), and in C. striata due to metasystox
(1979) in Channa punctatus due to aldrin; Verma et al. (1982) (Natarajan, 1984). In recent years, significant decrease in the
in Mystus vittatus due to different pesticides, Natrajan (1984) values of MCH and MCHC has been reported in Prochilodus
in Channa striatus due to metasystox, and by Dabral and lineatus due to clomazone-based herbicide – Gamit® 500
Chaturvedi (1984) in Heteropneustes fossilis due to folidol (Pereira et al., 2013), in Channa punctatus due to deltamethrin
(Table 3). (Jayaprakash and Shettu, 2013) and in H. fossilis due to
The absolute values are useful in the determination and chlorpyrifos (Tiwari et al., 2017). On the contrary, significant
classification of anaemia on the basis of size and haemoglobin increase in MCH and MCHC has been reported in L. rohita due
content of RBCs. Pesticidal intoxication causes alterations in to exposure to difenoconazole and thiamethoxam (Jasmin et al.,

275
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

2018) and in Barbonymus gonionotus due to quinalphos Barbonymus gonionotus due to quinalphos (Mostakim et al.,
(Mostakim et al., 2015). A significant decrease in MCV value 2015). Simultaneous decrease in MCV and MCH with
has been observed in L. rohita due to difenoconazole and increased MCHC was observed in Ctenopharyngodon idella
thiamethoxam (Jasmin et al., 2018) and in H. fossilis due to due to Nuvan (76% EC DDVP) (Kumari et al., 2018) (Table 3).
chlorpyrifos (Tiwari et al., 2017). On the other hand, Decline in MCH and MCHC values are associated with
significant increase in MCV was reported in Channa punctatus swelling of erythrocytes and subsequent hypoxia (Amaeze et
due to deltamethrin (Jayaprakash and Shettu, 2013) and in al., 2020).

Table 3. Summary of recent updates on alterations in erythrocyte related absolute values such as mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean
corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in different fish species exposed to various
pesticides.

Fish species Pesticide MCV MCH MCHC References

Oncorhynchus mykiss Diazinon   No change Far et al., 2012

Channa punctatus Deltamethrin    Jayaprakash and Shettu,

2013
Prochilodus lineatus Clomazone-based No change   Pereira et al., 2013
herbicide – Gamit® 500
Clarias batrachus Mancozeb No change   Shahi and Singh, 2014

Cirrhinus mrigala Deltamethrin   No change David et al., 2015

Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Diazinon Initially , Initially ,  Hedayati and Niazie, 2015

later  later 
Barbonymus gonionotus Quinolphos    Mostakin et al., 2015

Cyprinus carpio Cypermethrin    Neelima et al., 2015

Oreochromis mossambicus Imidacloprid   Fluctuation Patel and Parikh, 2015

Labeo rohita Imidacloprid    Patel and Parikh, 2015

Clarias gariepinus Atrazine and    George et al., 2017

Metolachlor
Cyprinus carpio Permethrin    Rao et al., 2017
(technical grade)
Heteropneustes fossilis Chorpyrifos    Tiwari et al., 2017

Labeo rohita Difenoconazole and    Jasmin et al., 2018

thiamethoxam
Ctenopharyngodon idella Dichlorvos    Kumari et al., 2018

Ctenopharyngodon idella Deltamethrin (technical    Rao et al., 2018

grade)
Oreochromis mossambicus Chlorpyrifos  No change No change Ghayyur et al., 2019
(Symbols: , significant increase; , significant decrease)

B. Leucocyte dependent parameters An increased TLC as leucocytosis under the influence of

1) Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) different pesticides has been observed in Tilapia zillii due to
It is the measure of total number of white blood cells or pollution (Sadd et al., 1973), Channa punctatus due to aldrin
leucocytes in the blood. TLC may increase or decrease due to and other pesticides (Lone and Javaid, 1976; Mahajan and
the effect of pesticide. Pathophysiological condition of Juneja, 1979), Mystus vittatus due to different pesticides
increased TLC is leucocytosis, and that of decreased TLC is (Verma et al., 1982), Heteropneustes fossilis due to different
leucopenia. insecticides (Srivastava and Narain, 1982), H. fossilis due to
malathion (Mishra and Srivastava, 1983), Anguilla vulgaris
and Mugil cephalus due to endrin and DDT (Hilney et al.,

276
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

1983), Heteropneustes fossilis due to DDT (Mustafa and (Mukhopadhyay and Dehadrai, 1980). Significant increase in
Murad, 1984), Ophiocephalus punctatus by endosulfan (Tyagi large and small lymphocytes combined with decreased
et al., 1989), Clarias batrachus due to organochlorine BHC monocytes was observed in H. fossilis due to malathion
poisoning (Thakur and Pandey, 1990), in Heteropneustes exposure (Mishra and Srivastava, 1983) and in Channa
fossilis exposed to sublethal concentration of chlordecone punctatus due to DDT and dieldrin (Lone and Javaid, 1976).
(Srivastava and Srivastava, 1994) and in Clarias batrachus Similar findings along with increased neutrophils and
exposed to sublethal concentrations of actellic (Mgbenka et basophils have been observed in H. fossilis exposed to B.H.C.
al., 2005). (Srivastava and Narain, 1982). According to Roitt (1977),
Reports on TLC in recent years also reveal a significant pesticides disrupt the immunological responses of animals as
increase in its value in Channa punctatus under the influence reflected by altered lymphocyte count.
of sublethal concentrations of deltamethrin (Jayaprakash and Recently, significant alterations in DLC have been reported
Shettu, 2013), in Cyprinus carpio exposed to sublethal in Channa punctatus due to endosulphan and dimethoate for
concentrations of fenthion (Muralidharan, 2012), in Cyprinus 96 hr (Parkash, 2016). They observed significant decrease in
carpio due to sublethal concentrations of monocrotophos basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes with
(Vaiyanan et al. 2015), in Channa punctatus exposed to simultaneous increase in neutrophils due to endosulfan. In the
sublethal concentrations of endosulphan and dimethoate same study, they also reported significant decrease in
(Prakash, 2016), in Heteropneustes fossilis due to sublethal monocytes and neutrophils with simultaneous increase in
concentrations of chlorpyrifos (Tiwari et al., 2017), and in basophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes in the fish exposed to
Ctenopharyngodon idella exposed to lethal and sublethal dimethoate. Increased levels of neutrophil, basophil and
doses of dichlorvos and its technical grade (Kumari et al. eosinophil with decreased lymphocytes and monocytes have
2018). Increased leucocyte count could be a compensatory been observed in Heteropnuestes fossilis exposed to
and defense response against the toxic effect of pesticides on chlorpyrifos (Tiwari et al., 2017) (Table 4).
fish (Mostakin et al., 2015) (Table 4).
C) Other parameters
Leucopenia has been reported in Channa striatus exposed to
sublethal concentration of metasystox (Natrajan, 1984), in 1) Thrombocyte Count (ThC)
Heteropneustes fossilis due to the effect of chlordane, lindane, Thrombocyte count measures the number of thrombocyte or
heptachlor, dimethoate, methyl parathion and cypermethrin platelets in unit volume of blood. It is usually expressed as
(Mishra and Srivastava, 1984; Srivastava and Mishra, 1985, platelets per cubic millimetre of whole blood. Increased ThC
1987; Ghosh and Banerjee, 1993; Nath and Banerjee, 1996), is referred to thrombocytosis, and significantly lowered ThC
in C. carpio exposed to diazinon (Banaee et al., 2008), and in count, thrombocytopenia.
Clarias gariepinus exposed to diazinon (Adedeji et al., 2009). Increase in thrombocytes following pesticidal treatments has
Recently, significant decrease in TLC value has also been been reported in Channa punctatus due to aldrin (Mahajan and
reported by Mostakin et al. (2015) in Barbonymus gonionotus Juneja, 1979), Clarias batrachus due to aldrin (Dalela et al.,
due to quinolphos and by Jasmin et al. (2018) in Labeo rohita 1980), H. fossilis due to nuvacron and dimecron (Srivastava
exposed to difenoconazole and thiamethoxam (Table 4). and Narain, 1982), H. fossilis due to malathion (Mishra and
Decreased TLC in fishes has been associated with stress Srivastava, 1983), H. fossilis exposed to formothion (Singh
caused by pesticidal exposure (Jasmin et al., 2018). Thus and Srivastava, 1984), Clarias batrachus exposed to
decline in the leucocyte count is considered a signal of endosulfan and kelthane (Venkateshwarlu et al. 1990), H.
compromised immunity of fish under pesticidal toxicity (Far fossilis exposed to aldrin (Singh et al., 1991), H. fossilis
et al., 2012). Thus pesticides have mixed effect on TLC – exposed to chlordecone (Srivastava and Srivastava, 1994), and
most of the pesticides cause leucocytosis while some in Clarias gariepinus exposed to diazinon (Adedeji et al.,
pesticides are reported to cause leucopenia depending upon 2009). Recent study also reveals increased ThC content in
fish species investigated (Fig. 2). Cyprinus carpio exposed to fenthion (Muralidharan, 2012).
Thrombocytosis might be a response to overcome the
2) Differential Leucocyte Count (DLC)
excessive bleeding in eventual tissue damage or haemorrhage
DLC is the percentage estimate of each type of leucocyte under pesticidal effect (Mahajan and Juneja, 1979; Kumari
present in the blood. The differential leucocyte count in fishes and Yadava, 1988).
under the treatment of certain pesticidal intoxicants has Significantly decreased thrombocyte count was observed in
received the attention of several workers. Increase in H. fossilis due to fenthion (Srivastava and Mishra, 1983), H.
neutrophils and small lymphocytes along with decrease in fossilis exposed to chlordane (Mishra and Srivastava, 1984),
large lymphocytes and basophils have been reported in C. H. fossilis exposed to propoxur (Singh et al., 1992), Clarias
batrachus and Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to aldrin

277
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

batrachus exposed to certain carbamate pesticides (Swarnlata,

1995).
Table 4. Summary of recent updates on alterations in total leucocyte count (TLC) and differential leucocyte counts (neutrophils, basophils,
eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes) in different fish species exposed to various pesticides.
Fish species Pesticide TLC Differential leucocyte count References

Neutrophils Eosinophils Basophils Lymphocytes Monocytes

Oncorhynchus Diazinon  Fluctuation N.D. N.D. Fluctuation N.D. Far et al., 2012
mykiss
Cyprinus carpio Fenthion  N.D. N.D. N.D.   Muralidharan,
2012
Channa punctatus Deltamethrin  N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Jayaprakash and
Shettu, 2013
Clarias batrachus Mancozeb  N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Shahi and Singh,
2014
Cirrhinus mrigala Deltamethrin Initially , N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. David et al., 2015
later 
Hypophthalmichthys Diazinon  Initially No change N.D.  No Hedayati and
molitrix , later  change Niazie, 2015
Barbonymus Quinolphos  N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Mostakin et al.,
gonionotus 2015
Cyprinus carpio Cypermethrin  N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Neelima et al.,
2015
Oreochromis Imidacloprid   N.D. N.D.  (small N.D. Patel and Parikh,
mossambicus lymphocytes); 2015
and  (large
lymphocytes)
Labeo rohita
Cyprinus carpio Monocrotophos  N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Vaiyanan et al.,
2015
Channa punctatus Endosulphan       Parkash, 2016

Channa punctatus Dimethoate       Parkash, 2016

Clarias gariepinus Atrazine and   N.D. N.D.   George et al.,

Metolachlor 2017
Cyprinus carpio Permethrin  N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Rao et al., 2017
(technical
grade)
Heteropneustes Chorpyrifos       Tiwari et al.,
fossilis 2017
Labeo rohita Difenoconazole  N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Jasmin et al.,
and 2018
thiamethoxam
Ctenopharyngodon Dichlorvos  N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Kumari et al.,
idella 2018
tenopharyngodon Deltamethrin  N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. Rao et al., 2018
idella (technical
grade)
Oreochromis Chlorpyrifos  Increased granulocyte count   Ghayyur et al.,
mossambicus 2019
(Abbreviations and symbols: N.D., not determined by authors in their study; , significant increase; , significant decrease)

278
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

carbaryl. Proc. Nat. Symp. Emerg. Trend. Anim. Haematol., pp

2) Coagulation Time (CT)
77–80.
It is defined as the time period (minutes) required for a sample
Ahmed I., Reshi Q.M. & Fazio F. (2020). The influence of the
of blood to coagulate in vitro under standard conditions.
Decreased coagulation time (CT) under pesticidal effects has endogenous and exogenous factors on hematological
been reported in Channa punctatus due to some parameters in different fish species: a review. Aquacult. Int.,
organophosphorus insecticides (Lone and Javaid, 1976); https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-019-00501-3.
in Heteropneustes fossilis due to various insecticides Aktar M.W., Sengupta D. & Chowdhury A. (2009). Impact of
(Srivastava and Narain, 1982); in Heteropneustes fossilis due pesticides use in agriculture: their benefits and hazards.
to fenthion (Srivastava and Mishra, 1983); in Clarias Interdisc. Toxicol., 2 (1): 1–12.
batrachus due to different pollutants (Dhillon and Gupta,
1983); in Cyprinus carpio due to fenthion (Muralidharan, Amaeze N.H., Komolafe B.O., Salako A.F., Akagha K.K.,
2012). On the other hand, increased clotting time has been Briggs T.-M.D., Olatinwo O. O., & Femi M.A. (2020).
observed in Channa punctatus due to deltamethrin Comparative assessment of the acute toxicity, haematological
(Jayaprakash and Shettu, 2013). and genotoxic effects of ten commonly used pesticides on the
CONCLUSION African catfish, Clarias gariepinus Burchell 1822. Heliyon, 6,
e04768.
Aforementioned reports indicate that the pesticides greatly
APHA (American Public Health Association) (1976). Standard
distress the haematology of aquatic fauna with particular
methods for the examination of water and wastewater.
reference to fishes. In general, there is no fixed pattern of ill
Washington D.C.
effect of different classes of pesticides on haematological
Banaee M., Mirvagefei A.R., Rafei G.R. & Majazi A.B. (2008).
parameters. However, toxicity of most pesticides has resulted
Effect of sublethal diazinon concentration on blood plasma
into anaemia and leucocytosis in fish. Altered haematological
biochemistry. Int. J. Environ. Res., 2(2):189–198.
parameters in turn detrimentally change vital physiology of
Bansal S.K.S., Verma S.R., Gupta A.K. & Dalela R.C. (1979).
fish e.g. respiration, feeding, reproduction etc. Any change in
Physiological dysfunction of the haemopoietic system in a
the physiology of fish could have catastrophic consequences
fresh water teleost, labeo rohita following chronic chlordane
like decrease in productivity of fish. Decrease in the
exposure. Part – I Alteration in certain haematological
production of fish may affect the food constituents of human
parameters. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 22: 666-673.
population as well as has detrimental consequences on
Barlas N.E., (1999). Determination of organochlorine pesticide
ecosystem and biodiversity. Therefore, it is of utmost
residues in aquatic system and organism in upper Sakarya
importance to check and reduce the indiscriminate usage of
Basin, Turkey. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.62 (3): 278-
pesticides and may look in to other environmental friendly
285.
approaches of agrochemicals to increase crop productivity.
Bloom, J.C., Brandt, J.T., 2008. Toxic responses of the blood.
This will assist to succeed in the nutritional war and will also
In: Casarett, L.J., Klaassen, C.D. (Eds.), Casarett and Doull’s,
provide pollution free aquatic body as well as aquatic variety
Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. , 7th ed. McGraw-
of fishes. However, further studies are needed to unravel
Hill Medical, New York, pp. 455–484.
precise cellular and molecular mechanism of pesticide induced
Brown V.K. (1980). Acute toxicity in theory and practice. Pub.
alterations in haematological parameters of fish.
Vileyinter Science, New York.
Caldas E.D.R.C., Souza L.C.K.R. & Silva S.C. (1999).
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Organochlorine pesticides in water, sediment and fish of
We are grateful to The Secretary and The Principal, Udai
Parano Lake of Brasilia, Brazil. Bull. Environ. Contam.
Pratap College, Varanasi for providing necessary facilities and
Toxicol. 62 (2): 199-206.
infrastructure to prepare this article. We are also indebted to our
Dabral R. & Chaturvedi L.D. (1984). Folidol induced changes
colleague faculty members for their valuable suggestions and
in some haematological values of Heteropenustes fossilis at
encouragement.
low temperature. J. Adv. Zool. 4(2): 92-96.
REFERENCES Dalela R.C., Gupta A.K. & Verma S.R. (1980). Aldrin induced
alteration in the leucocytic population of Clarias batrachus
Adedeji O.B., Adedeji O.A., Adeyemo O.K. & Agbeda S.A.
and Cirrhinus mrigala. J. Environ. Biol. 1(1): 55-57.
(2009). Acute effects of diazinon on blood parameters in the
David M., Sangeetha J., Shrinivas J., Harish E.R. & Naik V.R.
African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Internet. J. Haematol.,
(2015). Effects of deltamethrin on haematological indices of
5(2):708–715.
Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) International
Ahmad M. & Ahsan S.N. (1989). Changes in haematological
J. Pur. Appl. Zool., 3 (1): 37-43.
parameters of Amphipnous cuchia on exposure to aldrin and

279
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

Devi P.I., Thomas J. & Raju R.K. (2017). Pesticide Holden A.V. (1973). Effects of pesticides in fish. In.
Consumption in India: A Spatiotemporal Analysis. Agricult. Environmental pollution by pesticides. Edwards C.A. (Ed.),
Econ. Res. Rev., 30(1): 163- 172. Plenum Press, New York, pp213-253.
Dhillon S. & Gupta A.K. (1983). A clinical approach to study Isenring R. (2010). Pesticides and the loss of biodiversity.
the pollutant intoxication in a freshwater teleost Clarias Pesticide Action Network Europe
batrachus. Water Air Soil Poll., 20:63-68. Jagtap A.R. & Mali R.P. (2012). Alterations in the erythrocyte
Dieter J. (1982). Histopathological and haematological studies sedimentation rate of fresh water fish, Channa punctatus on
on the cichlids, Herotilapia multispinosa and Tilapia exposure to temperature stress from Godavari River Nanded.
leucosticte following organophosphate intoxication with Int. J. Biomed. Adv. Res., 03: 870-873.
lebaycid. Z. Angew. Zool. 68(3): 257-280. Jasmin J., Rahman Md.M. & Rahman Md.M. (2018).
Dorucu M. & Girgin A. (2001) The effect of cypermethrin on Haematological changes in Labeo rohita (H.) due to exposure
some haematological parameters of Cyprinus carpio. of pesticides, difenoconazole and thiamethoxam. International
Aquacult. Int., 9:183–187. J. Contemp. Res. Rev. 9(01): AG 20199-20205.
Far M.S., Roodsari H.V., Zamini A., Mirrasooli E. & Kazemi R. Jayaprakash C. & Shettu N. (2013). Changes in the hematology
(2012). The Effects of Diazinon on Behavior and Some of the freshwater fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch) exposed to
Hematological Parameters of Fry Rainbow Trout the toxicity of deltamethrin. J. Chem. Pharm. Res. 5(6):178-
(Oncorhynchus mykiss). World J. Fish Mar. Sci., 4 (4): 369- 183.
375. Jayaraj R., Megha P. & Sreedev P. (2016). Organochlorine
Frank J. (1980). Haematological studies on rainbow trout (Salmo pesticides, their toxic effects on living organisms and their fate
gairdneri) and carp (Cyprinus carpio) after application of sub in the environment. Interdiscip. Toxicol. 9(3–4): 90-100.
lethal concentration of pesticides: rogor, benomyl, pomuran Jee J.H., Masroor F. & Kang J.C. (2005) Responses of
and domabi special. Z. Angew Zool. 66 (4): 475-504. cypermethrin induced stress in haematological parameters of
Gbore F.A., Oginni O., Adewole A.M., & Aladetan J.O. (2006) Korean rockfish Sebastes schegeli (Higl). Aquacult. Res.
The effect of transportation and handling stress on 36:898–905.
haematology and plasma biochemistry in fingerlings of Joseph B. & Raj S.J. (2011). Impact of pesticide toxicity on
Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zillii. World J. Agricult. Sci. 2: selected biomarkers in fishes. Int. J. Zool. Res., 7:212-222.
208-212. Kumar S., Lata S. & Gopal K. (1999). Deltamethrin induced
George A.D.I., Akinrotimi O.A. & Nwokoma U.K. (2017). physiological changes in freshwater catfish Heteropneustes
Haematological changes in African catfish (Clarias fossilis. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 62:254–258.
gariepinus) exposed to mixture of atrazine and metolachlor in Kumari M. & Yadava S.C. (1988). Leucocytic and haemostatic
the laboratory. J. Fisher. Sci., 11(3): 048-054. response of fish Clarias batrachus, subjected to environmental
Ghayyur S., Tabassum S., Ahmad M.S., Akhtar N. & Khan M.F. pollution by pesticides. Proc. Ind. Sci. Congr. Associ., 75th
(2019). Effect of chlorpyrifos on hematological and seral Session.
biochemical components of fish Oreochromis mossambicus Kumari R.S., Kumar M.V. & Rao N.G. (2018). Haematological
Pakistan J. Zool., 51(3): 1047-1052. changes induced in the fish Ctenopharyngodon idella
Ghosh K. & Banerjee V. (1992) Effect of deltamethrin on (Valenciennes) exposed to organophosphate Dichlorvos both
hemopoietic tissue and some blood parameters of technical and 76% EC (Nuvan). J. Innov. Pharm. Biol. Sci.,
Heteropneustes fossilis. J. Freshw. Biol. 4:283–288. 5(2): 58-63.
Ghosh K. & Banerjee V. (1993). Alterations in blood parameters Lal B., Singh A., Kumari A. & Sinha N. (1986). Biochemical
in the fish, Heteropneustes fossilis exposed to dimethoate. and haematological changes following malathion treatment in
Environ. Ecol., 11:979–981. the freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. Environ.
Heath A.G. (1995). Water Pollution and Fish Physiology, 2nd Pollut. Ser. A. Ecol. Biol. 42 (2): 151-156.
ed.Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton. Lamai S.L., Warner G.F. & Walker C.H. (1999). Effects of
Hedayati A. & Niazie E.H.N. (2015). Hematological changes of dieldrin on life stages of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus
silver carp in response to Diazinon pesticide. J. Environ. (Burchell). Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 42 (1): 22-29.
Health Sci. Eng., 13 (52): 1-5. Le Goff G. & Giraudo M. (2019). Effects of pesticides on
Hilney A.M., Badawi H.K. & Shabana M.B. (1983). environment and insecticide resistance. In: Picimbon J.F. (ed.)
Physiological mechanism of toxication of DDT and endrin in Olfactory concepts of insect control – alternative to
two euryhaline freshwater fish, Anguilla valgaris and Mugil insecticides. Springer, Cham, pp 51-78.
cephalus. Biochem. Physiol. Comp. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Li Z.H., Velisek J., Zlabek V., Grabic R., Machova J. Kolarova
76(1): 173-180. J. & Randak T. (2010). Hepatic antioxidant status and
hematological parameters in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus

280
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

mykiss, after chronic exposure to carbamazepine. Chemic.- Nath R. & Banerjee V. (1999). Effect of nuvan on the
Biol. Interact., 183: 98–104. haematological parameters of an air breathing fish Anabas
Lone K.P. & Javaid M.Y. (1976). Effects of sub lethal doses of testudineus (Bloch). J. Freshw. Biol., 11:33–36.
three organophosphorus insecticides on the haematology of Natrajan G.M. (1984). Effect of sublethal concentration of
Channa punctatus (Bloch.). Pak. J. Zool. 8: 77-84. metasystox on some selected enzyme, tissue respiration and
Mahajan C.L. & Juneja C.J. (1979). Effect of aldrin on histology of gills of the freshwater air breathing fish Channa
peripheral blood of fish Channa punctatus (Bloch.). Indian J. striatus (Bleeker). Pestic. Biochem. Physiol., 21:194–198.
Environ. Hlth., 21(2): 162-172. Neelima P., Sunitha K., GopalaRao N., Chandra S. & Rao J.
Manthirasalam P. (1993) Methaemoglobin levels in blood as an (2015). Haematological alterations in Cyprinus carpio as
indicator of toxicity in a freshwater teleost Sarotherodon biomarkers of cypermethrin toxicity. Int. J. Cur. Res., 7(8):
mossambicus (Peters). M.Sc. Dissertation, Govt Arts Coll., 18864-18870.
Coimbatore, India. Nurullah M, Kamal M, Wahab MA, Islam MN, Ahasan CT,
Matthiessen P. (1982). Haematological changes in fish Thilsted S (2003) Nutritional quality of some small indigenous
following aerial spraying with endosulfan insecticide for tse- fish species of Bangladesh. In BAU-ENRECA/DANIDA
tse fly control in Botswana. J. Fish Biol., 18(4): 461-470. Workshop on Potentials of Small Indigenous Species of Fish
Mgbenka B.O., Oluah N.S. & Arungwa A.A. (2005). (SIS) in Aquaculture and Rice-field Stocking for Improved
Erythropoietic response and hematological parameters in the Food and Nutrition Security in Bangladesh, Small indigenous
cat fish Clarias batrachus exposed to sublethal concentrations species of fish in Bangladesh (pp. 151-158). Christian Ejlers.
of actellic. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safe., 62:436–440. http://www.forskningsdatabasen.dk/en/catalog/2398268059
Mishra J. & Srivastava A.K. (1983). Malathion induced Özkara A., Akyil D. & Konuk M. (2016). Pesticides,
haematological and biochemical changes in the Indian catfish environmental pollution, and health. In Environmental health
Heteropenustes fossilis. Environ. Res. 30: 393-398. risk-hazardous factors to living species (Eds. Marcelo L.,
Mishra J. & Srivastava A.K. (1984). Effect of chlordane on the Larramendy M.L. & Soloneski S.), IntechOpen. DOI:
blood and tissue chemistry of a teleost fish Heteropneustes 10.5772/63094.
fossilis. Cell. Mol. Biol., 30:519–523. Parkash J. (2016). Effect of endosulphan and dimethoate
Mostakim G.Md., Zahangir Md.M., Mishu M.M., Rahman pesticides on haematological parameters of fresh water fish
Md.K. & Islam M.S. (2015). Alteration of blood parameters Channa punctatus. J. Zool. Sci., 4(3): 28-33.
and histoarchitecture of liver and kidney of silver barb after Patel B. & Parikh P. (2015). Haematological Alterations of
chronic exposure to quinalphos. J. Toxicol., Article ID Freshwater Fish Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and
415984: 1-8. Rohu (Labeo rohita) Exposed to Imidacloprid. International
Mukhopadhaya P.K. & Dehadrai P.V. (1980). Biochemical Journal of Zoological Investigations, 1(2): 179-186.
changes in the air breathing catfish, Clarias batrachus Pereira L., Fernandes M.N. & Martinez C.B.R. (2013).
exposed to malathion. Environ. Pollut. Ser. A Ecol. Biol., 22: Hematological and biochemical alterations in the fish
149-158. Prochilodus lineatus caused by the herbicide clomazone.
Muraidharan L. (2012). Haemato-biochemical alterations Environ.Toxicol. Pharmacol., 36: 1-8.
induced by chronic exposure to fenthion in Cyprinus carpio. Prashanth M.S. (2011). Histopathological changes observed in
Trend. Fisher. Res. 1(3): 19-25. the kidney of freshwater fish, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)
Murthy K.S., Kiran B.R. & Venkateshwarlu M. (2013). A exposed to cypermethrin. Recent Res. Sci. Technol., 3(2): 59-
review on toxicity of pesticides in fish. Int. J. Open Sci. Res., 65.
1 (1): 15-36. Rao G.N., Naik B.K.R. & Rao S.G. (2017). Haematological
Mustafa S. & Murad A. (1984). Survival, behavioural response changes in the fish Cyprinus carpio exposed to a synthetic
and haematological profile of catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis pyrethroid [Class I], Permethrin and its 25% EC. Current
exposed to DDT. Japan. J. Ichthyol., 31(1): 55-65. Trends Technol. Sci., 2017; 6 (5): 759-763.
Natarajan G.M. (1984). Effects of sublethal concentration of Rao G.S., Naik B.K., Satyanarayana S. & Rao N.G. (2018).
metasystox on selected oxidative enzymes, tissue respiration Haematological changes induced by the deltamethrin a
and haematology od the freshwater air breathing fish, Channa synthetic pyrethroid technical grade and 11% EC (Decis) in
striata (Bleeker). Pestic. Biochem. Physiol., 21: 194-198. the fish Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes). J. Innov.
Nath R. & Banerjee V. (1996). Effect of pesticides methyl Pharm. Biol. Sci., 5 (2), 128-134.
parathion and cypermethrin on the air breathing fish Reddy D.C., Vijayakumari P., Kalarani V. & Davies R.W.
Heteropneustes fossilis. Environ Ecol., 14:163–165. (1992). Changes in erythropoietic activity of Sarotherodon
mossambicus exposed to sublethal concentration of the

281
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

herbicide diuron. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 49:730– Srivastava A.K. & Mishra J. (1983). Effects of fenthion on the
737. blood and tissue chemistry of a teleost fish, Heteropenustes
Reddy P.M. & Bashamohideen M.D. (1989) Fenvalerate and fossilis. J. Comp. Pathol., 93(1): 27-32.
cypermethrin induced changes in the hematological Srivastava A.K. & Mishra J. (1985). Lindane induced
parameters of Cyprinus carpio. Acta Hydrochim. Hydrobiol., haematological changes in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis.
17:101–107. Natl. Acad. Sci. Lett., 8:391–393.
Roitt, I.M. (1977). Essential Immunology. The English language Srivastava A.K. & Mishra J. (1987). Heptachlor induced
Book Society and Blackwell Scientific Publications, London. haematological and biochemical changes in Indian catfish
Sabra F.S. & Mehana El-S.El-D. (2015). Pesticides toxicity in Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch). Acta Hydrobiol., 29:489–495.
fish with particular reference to insecticides. Asian J. Srivastava A.K. & Srivastava S.K. (1994). Chlordecone induced
Agricult. Food Sci., 3 (1): 40-60. changes in some haematological parameters in freshwater cat
Sadd M.A., Ezzat A. & Sabana M.B. (1973). Effects of fish Heteropneustes fossilis. J. Nat. Conserv., 6:73–76.
pollution on the blood characteristics of Tilapia zillii. Water Srivastava P.N. & Narain A.S. (1982). Leucocytic and
Air Soil Pollut., 2: 171-179. haemostatic reaction of the Indian catfish Heteropenustes
Sawhney A.K. & Joahl M.S. (2000). Erythrocyte alterations fossilis subjected to environmental pollution by sewage,
induced by malathion in Chann punctatus (Bloch.). Bull. Env. fertilisers and insecticides. Arch. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 50(1):
Cont. Toxicol., 64: 398-405. 13-21.
Sayeed I., Ahmed I., Fatima M., Islam H.F. & Suddin S.R. Swarnlata (1995) Toxicity and fate of carbamate pesticides on
(2000). Inhibition of brain Na+, K+-ATPase activity in blood constituents of a freshwater fish Clarias batrachus
freshwater catfish Channa punctata (Bloch.) exposed to paper (Linn.). PhD Thesis, Avadh University, Faizabad, India.
mill effluents. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 65 (2): 161- Thakur G.K. & Pandey P.K. (1990). BHC poisoning effect on
167. leucocytes of air breathing fish Clarias batrachus (Linn). J
Shahi J. & Singh A. (2014). Genotoxic and haematological Environ Biol., 11:105–110.
effect of commonly used fungicide on fish Clarias batrachus. Tishkowski K. & Gupta V. (2020). Erythrocyte sedimentation
J. Biol. Earth Sci., 4 (2): B137-B143. rate (ESR). In: StatPearl (Internet). Treasure Island (FL): State
Shakoori A.R., Mughal A.L. & Iqbal M.J. (1996) Effect of Pearl Publishing.
sublethal doses of fenvalerate (a synthetic pyrethroid) Tiwari R.K., Singh S., Ghosh S., Pandey R.S. (2017). Studies
administered continuously for four weeks on the blood, liver delineating the effect of chlorpyrifos on Heteropneustes
and muscles of a freshwater fish Ctenopharyngodon idella. fossilis: histopathological and hematological aspects. Int. J.
Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 57:487–494. Recent Sci. Res., 8(4): 16934-16938.
Singh D. & Singh A. (2000). The acute toxicity of plant origin Tudi M., Ruan H.D., Wang L., Lyu J., Sadler R., Connell D.,
pesticides into the freshwater fish Channa punctatus. Acta Chu C. & Phung D.T. (2021). Agriculture development,
Hydrochim. Hydrobiol., 28 (2): 92-94. pesticide applicationand its impact on the environment. Int. J.
Singh N.N. & Srivastava A.K. (2010). Haematological Environ. Res. Pub. Healt. 18:1112 (1-23).
parameters as bioindicators of insecticide exposure in teleosts. Tyagi M., Agrawal V.P. & Nandini S. (1989). Haematological
Ecotoxicology, 19:838–854. abnormalities induced in Ophiocephalus punctatus by
Singh N.N. & Srivastava A.K. (1994). Formothion induced endosulfan. Environ. Ser. Recent Trends Toxicol., 1:81–84.
haematological changes in the freshwater Indian catfish Ullah S. & Zorriehzahra M.J. (2015). Ecotoxicology: A Review
Heteropneustes fossilis. J Ecotoxicol Environ Monit., 4:137– of Pesticides Induced Toxicity in Fish. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci., 3
140. (1): 40-57.
Singh N.N., Srivastava A.K. & Srivastava A.K. (1991). Effect of Vaiyanan V., Sridharan G., Raveendran S. & Chairman K.
sublethal concentration of aldrin on haematological (2015). Impact of pesticide on haematological parameters of
parameters of freshwater Indian catfish Heteropneustes Cyprinus carpio. World J. Pharm. Pharmaceut. Sci., 4(8):
fossilis. J Freshw. Biol., 3:223–227. 1424-1430.
Singh N.N., Srivastava A.K. & Srivastava A.K. (1992). Blood Venkateshwarlu P., Rani V.J.S., Janaiah C. & Prasad M.S.K.
dyscrasia in the freshwater Indian catfish Heteropneustes (1990). Effect of endosulfan and kelthane on hematology and
fossilis after acute exposure to a sublethal concentration of serum biochemical parameters of the teleost Clarias batrachus
propoxur. Acta Hydrobiol., 34:189–195. (L.). Indian J. Comp. Anim. Physiol., 8:8–13.
Sprague J.B. (1973). The ABC’s of pollutant bioassay using fish Verma S.R., Rani S. & Dalela R.C. (1982). Indicators of stress
in biological methods for the assessment of water quality. induced by pesticides in Mystus vittatus: Haematological
A.S.T.M. S.T.P, 528: 6-30. parameters. Indian J. Environ. Hlth., 24(1): 58-64.

282
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
 Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2021

Verma S.R., Tonk I.P. & Dalela R.C. (1981). Effect of thiotox
and malathion and their combination on the body composition
of Saccobranchus fossilis and Mystus vittatus. Int. J. Acad.
Ichthyol. 1(1): 35-44.
Wintrobe, M.M. (1967). Clinical hematology. VI th Ed., Lea and
Febiger, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Zacharia J.T. (2011). Ecological effects of pesticides. In.
Pesticides in the modern world - risks and benefits, Stoytcheva
M. (Ed.), InTech Europe, Croatia, pp129-142.

***

283
Institute of Science, BHU Varanasi, India
View publication stats