Toxicological effects of arsenate exposure on hematological, biochemical and liver transaminases activity in an Indian major carp, Catla catla

The impact of acute and sublethal toxicity of arsenate on hematological, biochemical and enzymological parameters of an Indian major carp Catla catla were estimated. The median lethal concentration of sodium arsenate to the fish Catla catla for 96 h was found to be 43.78 mg/L. During acute treatment (43.78 mg/L), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), plasma glucose, plasma protein, liver aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST and ALT) levels decreased, whereas corpuscular indices like mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) increased in arsenate treated fish. In sublethal treatment (4.378 mg/L), Hb, Ht, RBC, plasma protein levels decreased while MCHC and plasma glucose levels increased throughout the exposure period. A biphasic trend was noticed in WBC, MCV, MCH, liver AST and ALT levels. The alterations of these parameters can be effectively used as a rapid method to assess health of fish exposed to arsenate in the aquatic environment.