Toxicity Evaluation of Dual Fungicide SAAF (Carbendazim 12% and Mancozeb 63%) through Physiological Markers in Oreochromis mossambicus

The study was designed to evaluate the acute toxicity induced by SAAF in freshwater fish, Oreochromis mossambicus. Fungicides are widely used for pest management and increase crop output. When used in excessive doses, they are also exceedingly dangerous to non-target organisms. The present investigation is about changes in biochemical parameters in Oreochromis mossambicus due to toxicity induced by the application of fungicides in paddy-cum-fish ecosystem in India. The SAAF fungicide, a mixture of carbendazim (12%) and mancozeb (63%) is used to combat fungal diseases such as sheath blight, sheath rot, blast, and leaf spot diseases of rice plants. The present research aimed to determine the toxicity and evaluate the effect of sublethal concentrations of SAAF on some biochemical, haematological, and histological parameters of Oreochromis mossambicus after 10, 20 and 30 days. Oreochromis mossambicus were exposed to different concentrations of SAAF (10.5 mg/lit, 11.5mg/lit and 12.5 mg/lit) respectively and LC50 was determined. LC50 for SAAF was detected to be 13.5mg/lit using SPSS Vs.21. After 30 days of exposure, the individuals exposed to toxicity were sacrificed and the parameters were checked in the treated fish. Among biochemical parameters, total glucose, cholesterol, stress-related enzymes AST and ALT showed a significant increase while total protein showed a substantial decrease, whereas among haematological parameters, Haemoglobin, RBC, and PCV had risen and WBC and MCV showed a marked decrease. The tissue necrosis was quite prominent in the gill, heart, liver, kidney, and muscle after 30 days of exposure to the fungicide.