Evaluation of the Ameliorative Roles of Vitamins A, C and E on Haematological Parameters of Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) Fingerlings Exposed to Cadmium Chloride

Abstract

The ever increasing anthropogenic activities all over the world that usually lead to the release of myriads of pollutants such as cadmium call for concern. In the present study, the effects of cadmium chloride on the haematology of C. gariepinus and how such effects can be mitigated through the administration of vitamins were investigated. C. gariepinus fingerlings (whose initial weight ranged from 3-11g, standard length ranged from 7.9-9.4cm and total length ranged from 8.9-10.9cm) were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of Cd (00, 12mg/L, 16mg/L, 20mg/L and 24mg/L) with replicate in each case. 12mg/L each of the vitamins were administered across all the bud. Fresh concentrations of both toxicants and vitamins were administered every 72 hours for a period of 12 weeks every time the water medium was changed. The various treatments group include Cd (Cd only), CdVA (Cd+vitamin A), CdVC (Cd+vitamin C) and CdVE (Cd+vitamin E) with T1-T4 and replicate in each case. 3 samples of the fish were randomly selected and sacrificed from each aquarium tank every 4th week of the exposure period. The blood collected were analyzed for White Blood Cell count (WBC), Red Blood Cells (RBC), Haemoglobin Concentration (HGB), Pack Cell Volume (PCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and Platelet Count (PLT). The data generated were subject to one way analysis of variance at P≤0.05. The results indicate that in samples exposed to Cd only treatments for a period of four weeks, there were increased values of production of WBC in all treatments when compared to the control. There were decreases in the production values of PLT in all treatments when compared to higher values obtained in the control samples. The RBC, PCV and PLT mean values in the control are significantly higher than other treatments. After the 8th week of exposure, the WBC, RBC, and PCV mean values in the control are significantly higher than other treatments. MCHC and PLT mean values in the control are significantly different from other treatments. After the 12th week of exposure, RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC and PLT mean values in T1 are significantly lower than other treatments. In CdVA treatments in the 4th week of exposure indicated an increased production of WBC in all treatments; increased values of PLT were obtained in all treatments. The PCV and MCHC mean values in T1 are significantly different from other treatments. The mean values of the blood PLT are all significant with higher significance in T1 and T3. After the 8th week of exposure, all the parameters are not significantly different from each other. Similarly, at the 12th week of exposure there is no significant difference in all treatments. Level of production of blood parameters was generally low in all treatments. In the case of samples exposed to CdVC for a period of four weeks, there were increases in WBC and PLT values in all treatments. After the 8th week of exposure, mean values of all the parameters have no significant differences. At the 12th week of exposure, there were also no significant differences in the mean values of all the parameters. Samples exposed to CdVE treatments after four weeks, displayed higher values of WBC, slightly lower values of RBC, Hb and PCV in all treatments. There were marked increases in the production values of blood PLT in all treatments. The MCH and PCV mean values in T2 were significantly higher than in other treatments. After 8 weeks of exposure, the WBC mean values in T4 were significantly higher than other treatments. At the end of the 12th week, WBC and RBC mean values in T2 and T1, respectively were significantly higher than other treatments. The vitamins supplemented treatments displayed varying levels of ameliorations far better than the Cd only group. Amongst these, the CdVC and CdVE treatment groups fared better than others. The outcome of this research has shown the impacts of vitamins A, C and E in mitigating the effects of the toxicant and can serve as remedy in heavy metal toxication when appropriate concentrations are administered.