Effect of Exposure to Mercury on Health in Tropical Macrobrachium Rosenbergii

The effects of Hg on mortality, resistance and bioconcentration in the tropical giant freshwater Macrobrachium rosenbergii were studied. Mortalities of prawns exposed to mercury doses below 100 mu g L-1 were significantly lower than those exposed to higher doses. After 96 hours prawns exposed to >400 mu g L(-1)of mercury had a greater reduction in total haemocyte count and phagocytic activity than those exposed to lower concentrations. Bioconcentration of mercury (Hg) in the gills, hepatopancreas and muscles was variable. Mercury accumulated in gills and hepatopancreas but Hg accumulation in the muscles only increased marginally. Macrobrachium rosenbergii manifested histopathological alterations in gills, hepatopancreas and muscles when exposed to different concentrations of mercury. [Hussein A. Kaoud, Manal M. Zaki, Mona M. Ismail. Effect of Exposure to Mercury on Health in Tropical Macrobrachium Rosenbergii. Life Science Journal. 2011;8(1):154-163] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com.