Accumulation status of microcystin-LR in cultured and natural samples of Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia)

Abstract

Toxic cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa produce bio active compounds of Microcystin in water bodies. Serious health hazards were recorded in fauna and flora due to accumulation of MC-LR. Environmentally exposed O. niloticus random samples were collected from Beira Lake in mid of March; rich in scum. In vitro sampling was done separately using Beira Lake water. Water samples from the lake were added to the in vitro samples. The array of MC-LR accumulation was quantified using HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) and ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. MC-LR in edible fish parts were higher than the tolerable daily intake limit. Highest and the lowest ranged between 1.657±0.01 and 0.018±0.01 μg/kg *103. Boiling even at 1000C did not degrade MC-LR. The mean bio accumulation factors ranged in between 1.103 and 0.006. The health risk assessed and the accumulation status predicted a positive relationship. Therefore, preventing from the intake of contaminated fish species would be much better for health.