OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to assess the acute effect of cypermethrin on common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Evaluation of toxicity effects of cypermethrin on carp was performed on based assessment of hematological profile, antioxidant and oxidative biomarkers and histopathology.
METHODS: For testing of toxicity was used the commercial product Cyperkill 25 EC - CY, which contains 250 g.L-1 of cypermethrin. Carp were exposed to two concentrations (1CY - 4.57 µg.L-1 and 2CY - 45.7 µg.L-1) of CY and a control for 96 hours.
RESULTS: Significant reduction (p<0.05) in leukocyte count were in fish exposed to concentration 45.7 µg.L-1 (2CY). The both exposure of CY lead to significant differences (p<0.01) in antioxidants biomarkers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, reduced glutathione and glutathione S-transferase) and in lipid peroxidation in carp tissues. Many of these changes were observed in liver, gills, muscle, intestine, brain and kidney. Additionally, exposure to CY caused many histological changes in gills, liver and caudal kidney.
CONCLUSION: Exposure to CY caused hematological, biochemical and histopathological changes in carp. This study provides and complements other important results for evaluating the toxicity effect of pyrethroids on fish.