Impact of a widely cultivated tree (Moringa oleifera) on the health of commercially important hybrid catfish

Plantations of the tree moringa oleifera often lead to increas levels of leaf dust in nearby freshwater environments,and there is concern that,this could have a negative impact on catfish,which are important for aquaculture. therefore,this study,determined the biochemical alterations in serum,liver and kidney of hybrid catfish (clarias gariepinus (♀) × heterobranchus bidorsalis (♂) exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of m. oleifera leaf dust in a static renewable bioassay system during a medium term exposure period. the fish (mean length,16.33 cm,mean weight,9.90 g) were exposed to 0.16,0.12,0.08,0.04 and 0.00 mg/l concentrations of the plant leaf dust in triplicate exposure. after 21-days of exposure period,the fish were sacrificed for the biochemical parameters: glucose,total protein,albumin,globulin,cholesterol,triglyceride,g-glutamyltransferase,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. fish exposed to leaf dust showed significant differences (p<0.05) in levels of gamma glutamyltransferase serum,liver and kidney,and also in levels of albumin and cholesterol (p<0.05),in the liver and kidney. the levels of glucose and triglycerides were significantly different (p<0.05),in the liver and kidney,respectively,while,the other parameters were not significantly different (p>0.05),in the liver and kidney,respectively,in the test fish. other parameters were not significantly different (p>0.05) in their respective tissue-organs. ipso-facto,the alteration in biochemical parameters of hybrid catfish exposed to m. oleifera leaf dust was concentration dependent with 0.16 mg/l showing the highest negative alterations thus fish exposed to concentrations above 0.16 mg/l for longer durations may suffer impaired health effects.