Abstract

The physiological, biochemical and haematological changes in Channa punctatus after exposure to sublethal concentrations of the copper sulphate of the heavy metal have been investigated. The toxicity of the 2 ppm copper sulphate with respect to behaviour, and haematological paramaters of the fish Channa punctatus has been studied. Red blood cell (RBC) count and haemoglobin (Hb) content were decreased 0.9% with the increasing concentrations of the copper sulphate. However, the white blood cell (WBC) count was increased 1% with increasing concentrations of the copper sulphate. A dissimilar relationship was established with respect to RBC and WBC. The constant increase in the differential count clearly indicates that the heavy metal stress certainly stimulate the white blood cells to produce more at all times of exposure.  Biochemical changes of protein, lipid and carbohydrate were recorded. Also, such fish when consumed as food leads to the deposition of the heavy metal in the soft tissues of the human body leading to exposure to a health effects.

Keywords

Copper sulphate, Toxicity, Behaviour,  Haematological paramaters, Channa punctatus.

Received on 11/10/2016, Accepted on 16/11/2016, Published on 29/01/2017