Study of Oxidative Stress Induced by Cassava Effluent on Juvenile Clarias Gariepinus Using Antioxidant Enzyme System

ABSTRACT

Aquatic environmental stress of cassava effluent on catfish Juvenile (carias gariepinus) of about 5 months, 8 10cm in length and mean weight of 3.42 0.2g was investigated using antioxidant enzymes system. A total 125 Juvenile clarias gariepinus were used for the study which was further divided into five treatment groups of 25 each. Thus control, group I, group II, group III and group IV. Each of these groups were exposed to 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5% and 1% of cassava effluents respectively. The control was exposed to fresh water only. A period of 24 hours of exposure was enough to induce significant alterations in the various antioxidant enzymes, viz superoxide dismulates (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduce glutathione (GSH), MDA and protein thiol group giving rise to oxidative stress. The swimming performance of the fish immediately it was introduced into the different groups witnessed a sharp increase as a result of the various concentrations of cassava effluents. The swimming performance reduced after about 5 minutes. In groups III and IV 40% and 60% deaths were recorded. Further it was observed that the various levels of antioxidant enzymes decreased significantly under the effects of cassava effluent especially in groups II and IV (P < 0.001), which adversely affected the behaviour of the Juvenile. This study further demonstrates that cassava effluent if untreated and discharged into the aquatic environment poses great danger to various aquatic life forms. Resultant pollution of the underground and surface water sources poses great environmental and health hazard for man.