Abstract

This study investigated the effects of graded levels of sub-lethal concentrations of diesel on the biochemistry profile of Clarias gariepinus after exposure for a period of 28 days. 118 (male and female) C. gariepinus were used for the study. They were divided into four groups. Group 1 served as the untreated control (0) while Groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with graded levels of diesel 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 part per millon (ppm) for the study of liver enzymes. For plama enzymes study, Group 1 served as the untreated control (0), while Groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with graded levels of diesel of 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 ml stock solutions for 28 days. The liver samples were collected and analysed for liver enzyme. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were assessed on days 14, 21, and 28. Liver enzymes showed that exposure to diesel led to significant reduction (p<0.05) in ALT, AST and ALP activities after 14, 21 and 28 days of assessment. Evalution of the plasma enzymes showed that exposure to diesel led to significant increases (p<0.05) in plasma ALT, AST and ALP activity all through the studies except for Group B (0.4 ml) in which ALP was significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared to the control after 14 days of exposure. In plasma enzymes, a low significant relationship was observed between enzyme ALP and AST (r=0.338, P<0.05), low significant relationship was observed between enzyme ALT and ALP (r=0.485, P<0.05) also a low significant relationship was observed between enzyme ALT and AST (r=0.868, P<0.01).

Key words: Liver and plasma enzymes, Clarias gariepinus, diesel, clinical chemistry.