Sublethal haematological and histopathological effects of lindane on the Indian freshwater cat fish, Clarias batrachus (Osteichthyes: Clariidae)

The acute toxicity of Lindane to Indian fresh water Catfish (Clarias batrachus) was assessed in a static renewal technique. Three graded concentrations of lindane were prepared as 0.40, 0.60 and, 0.80 mg/L and a control experiment (0 mg/L). The 96 h (LC₅₀) value computed on logarithm was 0.36 mg/L. At various concentration of lindane, fish showed uncoordinated behaviour such as incessant gulping of air and increase in opercular ventilation. Mortality was recorded earliest in the highest concentrations of 1.8 mg/L and with increasing period of exposure to lindane. Marked diffuse fatty degenerative hepatocytes and heterophilic infiltration and pyknosis and degenerative changes of liver were the major histopathological effects distinctively shown. The results show that lindane is highly toxic to Clarias batrachus.