Histopathological Changes Observed in the Gills of Etroplus suratensis Exposed to Pyrethroid Insecticide, Lambda-Cyhalothrin

Abstract

Histopathological investigations on different tissues of fish are valuable tools for toxicology studies and monitoring water pollutions. Gills are the first organs which come in contact with environmental pollutants. The present attempt was made to study the histopathological changes in the gills of fish, E. suratensis when exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of insecticide, lambda-cyhalothrin. From the result, the most frequently observed changes when the gill come in contact with lambda-cyhalothrin on E. suratensis included increase in mucus, dilation of primary and secondary gill lamellae, widening of secondary gill filaments, vacuole, curved secondary lamellae, lamellar necrosis, edema, ballooning gill filament, hyperplasia. The histological changes observed in the gills of E. suratensis indicate that the fish were responding to the direct effects of the pesticide, lambda-cyhalothrin.