Histopathological changes in gills of a freshwater major carp Labeo rohita after acute and chronic exposure to textile mill effluent (tme).

In present investigation, fingerlings of Labeo rohita were exposed to acute (96 h) and chronic (30 days) dose of TME. The histopathological studies revealed conspicuous changes in the gills. The acute dose (LC50) showed no distinct secondary lamella and clumping of cells, detachment of epithelial surface in primary lamella and destruction of mucosal cells. The chronic dose of TME resulted in massive destruction in normal architecture of gill, thickening of secondary gill lamella and complete destruction of mucous cells.

The TME collected from Ichalkaranji was analyzed for physic- chemical parameters and heavy metals, which showed high range of pH and high values of alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulphate, TDS, COD, BOD, and absence of oxygen. The heavy, metal contents in TME was in the order of iron > Lead >Manganese > Chromium >Aluminum >Nickel > Zinc > Copper > Cadmium. The results indicate severity of physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals resulting in massive destruction in normal architecture of gill which is concentration and time dependent.