Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of scale of freshwater exotic fish, Ctenopharyngodon idella exposed to organochlorine pesticide, endosulfan

Abstract

The effect of pesticide on scales Ctenopharyngodon idella has been studied using scanning electron microscopy. The test fish was exposed to different sublethal concentrations (0.0007mg/L and 0.001mg/L) of organochlorine pesticide, endosulfan for 15, 30 and 45 days. The scales of exposed fish showed significant alterations such as damaged radii, broken circuli, structural loss in the focal region, broken, uprooted lepidonts/tubercles and even their sloughing off in rows from their point of attachment to the circuli. The intensity of damage to scale was found to be dose and exposure period dependent. It can thus be suggested that this noninvasive technique is very helpful for evaluating the health status of an aquatic body and could be incorporated into water monitoring surveillance.