Hematological variances were seen in
Ctenopharyngodon idella
when exposed to (LC50 and LC85) copper, chromium, and lead concentration groups. The metal-exposed blood samples after collection were ...analyzed for comparative analysis of hematological alterations in the reference and treated groups at the different exposure hours. A significant reduction (
p
< 0.05) in hemoglobin, RBC, hematocrit, total leucocyte, and lymphocyte counts was observed with the increase in metal concentrations, whereas a significant incline (
p
< 0.05) in granulocyte and monocyte counts was observed with the administered doses of selected toxic metals as compared with the values obtained from the reference group. More pronounced changes in hematological indices both for the red and white blood cells were noticed at the highest dose of LC85-administered metal groups. The induced hematological changes were independent of the exposed duration pattern. The present investigation has significantly contributed in knowledge assessment of metal toxicity based on inclusive evaluation of dose-response relationships.
The aim of the study was to quantify the accumulation of heavy metals like Zn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Cd, Mn, Fe, and Hg in various organs of Wallago attu. Samples were collected from polluted parts of River ...Kabul and compared with control fish netted from Warsak Dam. The data indicated that the sequence of metal bioaccumulation in the skin, gills, and muscle was Znâ>âCrâ>âPbâ>âCuâ>âNiâ>âFeâ>âMnâ>âHgâ>âCd, in the intestine was Znâ>âPbâ>âCrâ>âCuâ>âNiâ>âFeâ>âMnâ>âHgâ>âCd, and in the liver was Znâ>âPbâ>âCrâ>âCuâ>âNiâ>âFeâ>âMnâ>âHgâ>âCd. The overall metal burden in different tissues of W. attu was in the sequence of skinâ>âgillsâ>âintestineâ>âmuscleâ>âliver. The skin being the prime target organ showed that the route of metal uptake was the direct result of fish to metal exposure. The liver accumulated the least level of metals than other organs of the same fish.
Grass carps were exposed to the established lethal concentration (LC) values of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) each for the exposed period of 24, 48, 72, and 96 h respectively. ...Concentrations of these metals were determined in the brain, liver, muscles, gills, kidneys, and intestinal tissues of exposed and control fish through the atomic absorption spectrophotometer after the wet digestion process. The metals accumulation inside these tissues confirmed the absorption of metals from media into the tissues of the model organism. The accumulated concentration in fish tissues was confirmed to be concentration-dependent with significant (
p
< 0.05) elevated mean values seen for the lead followed by chromium and copper as compared with the mean concentration values of their respective control group. Levels of metals were found above the permissible standards suggested by the regulatory authorities in the fish’s body. Histological sections of the same targeted organs exposed to the three exposure concentration groups were studied and compared with the sections of the healthy group. The histopathological lesions were scored to rank the deleterious effects of metals. The histopathological changes were recorded in concentration and progressive time-related series where gills had the greatest number of scored lesions followed by the kidneys and intestines, muscles, brain, and finally the liver as the least affected organ. Moreover, the organs were not affected uniformly by the metals; in fact, every studied organ has given mild to severe responses towards the toxic metals where lead had proven to cause more severe lesions as compared with copper and chromium. The histological lesions recorded mostly were thus concentration-dependent as revealed in the bioaccumulation of these metals with the effects ranked as lead > chromium > copper with a few exceptions. The findings can be used as a benchmark for the evaluation of the fate and effects of the toxic metals in the expanded aquaculture production of grass carp nationwide. Further investigations with respect to other potentially toxic metals like arsenic, mercury, and cadmium could address the problem towards additional studies.
Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide, which is commonly used throughout the world. It accumulates in the environment and may cause significant damage to the ecosystems, particularly to the ...aquatic environments. The present study was conducted to evaluate the genotoxic effect of endosulfan on the grass carp (
Ctenopharyngodon idella
) blood. The fish were exposed to three different concentrations, 0.75 ppb/day, 1.0 ppb/day, and 1.5ppb/day of endosulfan for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The study was a randomized control trial and the control group was not exposed to endosulfan. The results showed that after 7 days, the level of DNA damage in all the concentrations was significant (
P
< 0.05), while after 14, 21, and 28 days’ trials, highly significant (
P
< 0.000) level of DNA damage was observed. Hence, time- and dose-dependent DNA damage was observed in fish DNA by comet assay. It is concluded from our results that with the increase in endosulfan concentration and exposure duration, the level of DNA damage also increased. As the current study showed the severe genotoxic effect of endosulfan in
Ctenopharyngodon idella
, therefore, the imprudent and indiscriminate use of endosulfan should be controlled and monitored by the concerned government authorities.
The primary aim of the current study was to recognize the biomarker approach as the finest tool to identify the geno-toxicological effects of copper, chromium, and lead inside the blood of grass carp ...using micronucleus test and comet assay. The induced micronuclei frequency in response to the administered concentrations of LC50 metals was discovered in the erythrocytes of metal-exposed fish at four-time intervals. The genotoxic effect of these metals with respect to the formation of micronuclei was ranked as chromium > lead > copper. Percentages of other cellular and nuclear abnormalities were also determined in the exposed blood films. Equally, the genotoxic studies in terms of comet assay in fish blood revealed significant deviations
p < 0.05
against each of the studied metal at their respective time interval as compared with the healthy fish group. However, induced frequency of micronuclei and the calculated DNA damage were not found to be duration dependent. Consequently, copper, chromium, and lead have been explored as cytotoxic elements that can be responsible for inducing genotoxic effects in fish existing aquatic habitats.
In the current study, chlorpyrifos was used as a test chemical to evaluate its possible toxicological effect on birds. A total of 45 adult male Japanese quails were divided into five groups (A to E). ...Each group, containing 9 birds was further divided into 3 sub-groups (containing 3 birds each). Group A served as control, while all other groups and sub-groups were exposed to selected pesticide for different trial periods. Chlorpyrifos sub-lethal doses were orally administered daily at the rate of 3, 6, 9, and 12 mg/kg body weight per day to group B, C, D, and E, respectively. Birds were kept under observation for behavioral changes throughout the trial periods. Clinical signs, histological alterations, genotoxicity, and blood biochemical alterations were recorded after each 15-day trial. Mild to moderate clinical signs like staggering gait, tremors, diarrhea, dullness, less frequency of crowing, and decrease foam production were observed in group D and E throughout the study. The changes in the body weight gain and blood biochemical parameters among different groups at a given trial period were insignificant. The appearance of micronuclei in group E birds was more significant, indicating that nucleus damage was dose-dependent while to lesser extent duration-dependent. The comet assay showed significant dose- and duration-dependent DNA damage among various groups. In comparison with control group, extensive histological degenerative alterations in the liver, testes, and kidneys were observed in birds of group D and E, where mild to severe alteration like congestion, vacuolation, necrosis, apoptosis, karyopyknosis, extensive degeneration, and alteration in many cellular structures were noticeable.
Objective
Two principal vector species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are known for transmission of dengue (DEN) and chikungunya (CHK) in Pakistan. We aimed to investigate their spatial and ...temporal distribution.
Methods and Results
The Maximum Entropy algorithm revealed current climatic suitability of A. albopictus by highlighting variables contributing to its spatial distribution: Land use cover was the most important environmental factor (63.1%) followed by elevation‐normalised difference vegetation index (10.9%), NDVI (8.5%) and annual precipitation (7.9%). As per Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values, the vector's presence was highly likely in areas with little vegetation such as built‐up spaces or uncultivated fields, and in areas with sparse vegetation such as grasslands and cultivated fields. Temperature variables showed differing effects on vector ecology with annual temperature being the most important. Logistic regression models showed that presence of the vector, build‐up and distance to roads contributed significantly to the distribution of both DEN and CHIK.
Conclusion
In Swabi, the mean temperatures of warmest and driest quarters are more important in the spatial distribution of A. albopictus than mean temperatures of the wettest and coldest quarters. Finally, disease modelling reflects a high probability for both DEN and CHIK in the same regions over a huge area.
Objectif
Deux principales espèces de vecteurs, Aedes aegypti et Aedes albopictus, sont connues pour la transmission de la dengue (DEN) et du chikungunya (CHK) au Pakistan. Nous avons cherché à étudier leur distribution spatiale et temporelle.
Méthodes et résultats
L'algorithme d'entropie maximale a révélé l'adaptation climatique actuelle d’A. Albopictus en mettant en évidence des variables contribuant à sa répartition spatiale: L’étendue des terres utilisées était le facteur environnemental le plus important (63.1%), suivi de l'indice de la différence de végétation normalisée (NDVI) par l'altitude (10.9%), le NDVI (8.5%) et les précipitations annuelles (7.9%). Selon les valeurs NDVI, la présence du vecteur était très probable dans les zones avec peu de végétation telles que les espaces bâtis ou les champs non cultivés et dans les zones à végétation clairsemée comme les prairies et les champs cultivés. Les variables de température ont montré des effets différents sur l’écologie des vecteurs, la température annuelle étant la plus importante. Les modèles de régression logistique ont montré que la présence du vecteur, les zones bâtis et la distance jusqu'aux routes contribuaient de manière significative à la distribution de la DEN et du CHIK.
Conclusion
A Swabi, les températures moyennes des trimestres les plus chauds et les plus secs sont plus importantes dans la répartition spatiale d’A. Albopictus que les températures moyennes des trimestres les plus humides et les plus froids. Enfin, la modélisation de la maladie reflète une forte probabilité pour DEN et CHIK dans les mêmes régions sur une vaste zone.
Welding is used throughout the world in refineries, thermal power plants, chemical facilities, and pressurized containers, and the welders are exposed to toxic heavy metals, electromagnetic fields, ...polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and ultraviolet radiations. In the present study, 59 welders and an equal number of control subjects were assessed for DNA damage in the lymphocytes using the comet assay. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and cadmium (Cd) levels in the scalp hair of the subjects were evaluated by using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results of the current study showed that DNA damage in the lymphocytes of welders (121.8 ± 10.7) was significantly higher as compared with controls (56.5 ± 17.6) (
P
< 0.001). Besides, the levels of Pb, Fe, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Cd were remarkably higher in the scalp hair of workers as compared with the control group (
P
< 0.001). Regression analysis showed a prominent association between the heavy metals and total comet score (TCS) in the exposed subjects. Age and duration of occupational exposure had significant effects (
P
< 0.05) on TCS values. Our results concluded that occupational exposure to welding fumes may cause DNA damage and can lead to important health hazards in the workers.
The genus
Heremites
Gray, 1845 is endemic to the Western Palearctic region, containing morphologically similar species with a not well resolved taxonomy. The genus has a broad distribution from North ...Africa to Central Asia, with the only known record from northeastern Afghanistan. Three species are currently recognized in the genus with one,
H. septemtaeniatus
(Reuss, 1834), representing populations at the eastern edge of the genus range. During extensive fieldwork, we discovered
H. septemtaeniatus
from northwestern Pakistan and provisionally suggest that this population could be morphologically defined as
H. septemtaeniatus transcaucasicus
(Chernov, 1926). This important contribution to the knowledge regarding the family Scincidae in Pakistan, however, needs further investigation using an integrative approach.
During the span of August–October, 2017 a major outbreak of Dengue fever happened in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Cases were reported from all the major cities and rural areas, but ...Peshawar was more severely hit with more than half of the total cases belonging to central Peshawar city. The epidemic patterns reveal that dengue fever cases were mostly reported for plain areas and also low altitude mountainous regions. We employed the principle of maximum entropy to establish the underlying distribution of dengue presences and background data. A geostatistical analysis was conducted by modelling the spatial structure of the dengue fever risk and estimating the prediction maps with corresponding uncertainty taking into account some of the most significant covariates. The prediction maps were created using binomial kriging with a binary logistic drift. The analysis was carried out for the whole province as well as subregions to have a closer look of the spatial distribution at local level. Our results show that our methodology performed well. Vector distribution, population density, and distance to roads were found to significantly affecting the spatial distribution of risk and gives very informative pattern.
PDF
