Determination of Some Biochemical Indices in Catfish from Rivers, Swamp and Commercial Fish Ponds in Oil and Non-oil Polluted Areas in Rivers and Anambra States, Nigeria: A Comparative Assessment

This study intended to comparatively assess some biochemical indices in eighteen catfish harvested from rivers, swamp and commercial fish ponds in oil-polluted and non-oil polluted areas of Nigeria. Three fishes were collected from each of the following sites; Akaraolu swamps in Ahoada East LGA (AR), a commercial fish pond within the area (AP), The New Calabar River in Ikwerre LGA (BR), a fish pond within the area (BP), Omambala River, Anambra East LGA (CR), a fish pond in Awka, Anambra state (CP), six groups in all. Variation of effects in fishes from the two regions was estimated using the following biochemical parameters; alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, urea, sodium ion, potassium ion, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Analysis was done in keeping with standard procedures. On analysis, the ALP and ALT activities (33.93±2.37 and 44.33±2.96 respectively) from AR were significantly (p<0.05) different from BR (17.00±0.58 and 35.00±5.69 respectively) and CR (22.00±2.31 and 30.67±2.60). The AST activity from AR (68.67±0.88) was not significantly different from that of BR (69.00±1.73) but was significantly different from that of CR (70.33±4.33). Also, site AP (65.53±0.37, 73.00±2.08 and 50.00±1.15 respectively) were significantly higher than CP (42.00±2.89, 64.67±4.33 and 44.67±5.46 respectively) and BP (26.00±1.15 and 50.20±1.15 respectively). However, the AST activity of catfish from AP (73.00±2.08) was not significantly different from that in BP (73.67±1.86). The creatinine, urea, Na+ and K+ concentrations observed from AR and AP were significantly higher in comparison to other sites. There was a significantly increased GSH, Catalase, and MDA, and a lower SOD concentration for AR and AP in comparison to other sites. The results show a variation in biochemical indices in fishes from oil-polluted sites when compared to non-oil polluted sites.