Oxidative stress, hematological, biochemical, and hormonal alterations induced by exposure tilapia fish of Edko Lake, Egypt, to organochlorine pesticide residues in Edko Lake water.

Background: Organochlorine (OCl) pesticide residues, including gamma-HCH, beta-HCH, heptachlor epoxide, p, p DDE, Dieldrin, endrin aldehyde, endosulfan sulfate, and endrin ketone, were found in the water of Egypt's Edko Lake in the Beheira Governorate. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of these OCl pesticide residues on some hematological, biochemical, and hormonal indices of lake tilapia fish. Results: The impact on hematological parameters indicated that these OCl residues cause a significant increase in WBC counts, hematocrit (HCT) values in male and female fish and a considerable rise in HGB and lymphocytes (LYM) in male fish. Liver function biomarkers, such as aspartate amino transaminase (AST) and alanine amino transaminase (ALT), increased significantly because of these OCl residues. In contrast, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) went down a lot. In addition, they decreased the level of glucose compared to the control. Levels of biomarkers related to kidney functions, i.e., uric acid and creatinine, increased significantly. Also, antioxidant enzymes like catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR) increased. However, the activity of GST decreased a lot in both male and female fish, and the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was reduced in male fish. Results revealed an alteration in thyroid hormone levels (thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)) in fish plasma compared with the control. Also, a significant decrease in folic stimulation hormone (FSH) in female fish and a substantial reduction in progesterone and testosterone hormones in male fish. Conclusions: The OCl pesticide residues found in Edko Lake water directly induced significant adverse effects on hematological components and biomarkers of liver and kidney functions and may have caused hormonal disturbances that harm fish health.