Effect of an Insecticide Abamectin on Some Biochemical Characteristics of Tilapia Fish (Oreochromis Niloticus)

Abstract

Problem statement: Presence of pesticide in streams and lakes is largely due to the runoff from agricultural fields. Pesticides are not highly selective but are generally toxic to many macrophytes, non-target organisms such as fish. Fish, generally accumulate contaminants from aquatic environments and have been largely used in food safety studies. Approach: The toxic effect of the insecticide abamectin on oxygen consumption and some biochemical characteristics (total protein, carbohydrate and cholesterol in liver, muscle, kidney and gills) of the tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) were estimated. Results: The data shows that the rate of oxygen consumption was declined during all the exposure periods. On the other hand, all biochemical’s parameters were found to be decreased in all tissues on comparison with control. Conclusion: The results indicated the toxic nature of the insecticide abamectin.