Alterations in hematological parameters and the structure of peripheral erythrocytes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to profenofos

The burden of pesticide use from agricultural intensification lies in the fact that pesticides may end up in aquatic ecosystems and have pernicious effects on non-target organisms, including fish. Different blood biomarkers, including hemato-biochemical indices, erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENA), and erythrocytic cellular abnormalities (ECA), were observed in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after exposure to varying sub-lethal concentrations (0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40% of 96-h LC50) of profenofos at different time intervals (7, 14, 21, and 28 days). The results revealed that glucose and white blood cell (WBC) levels significantly increased, while hemoglobin, red blood cell (RBC), and packed cell volume (PCV) significantly decreased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Aberrant erythrocytic morphology-derived ENA, such as nuclear degeneration, micronuclear formation,…