Comparative study on the haematological effect of synthetic and plant origin pesticides on fish <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Channa punctatus</i>

48-53Application of synthetic pesticides is one of the methods used to increase agriculture production, animal husbandry and welfare of mankind. Due to their long-term persistence, slow degradability toxicity to other organisms and accumulation inside the fish body, synthetic pesticides adversely affect the environment. To solve this problem, studies have been carried out on the possibility of using plant origin pesticides. In the present investigation, a study has been carried out to compare the hematological effect of synthetic pesticides, Furadan and plant origin pesticides, viz. rutin, taraxerol and apigenin. Fishes were exposed to different sub-lethal concentration of these compounds for one week. Thereafter, blood was assayed for selected haematological parameters (haematocrit, haemoglobin, red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts, total plasma protein and plasma glucose concentration). Sub-lethal concentrations of these compounds caused a dose dependent decrease in haemoglobin values coupled with a decrease in haematocrit values and red blood cell counts. The total white blood cell counts and the differential white blood cell counts were decreased except for the lymphocytes. Plasma protein and glucose were also lower in exposed fish when compared with control. The haematological indices, MCH, MCHC and MCV were also lowered. Results indicate that Furadan are more toxic than rutin, taraxerol and apigenin.