Evaluation of hematological parameters in the neotropical fish Cichlasoma dimerus (Teleostei, Cichliformes) exposed to human pharmaceuticals.

REY VAZQUEZ, G.; DORELLE L.; LO NOSTRO, F.; DA CUÑA, R.

Cartagena de Indias

Congreso; SETAC Latin America 13th Biennial Meeting; 2019

SETAC

Human pharmaceuticals are widespread used compounds, currently known to bepresent in freshwater ecosystems, where fish and other non-target organisms arechronically exposed to them at low concentrations (ng.L -1 to µg.L -1 ). However, manyof their effects on vertebrate physiology are still unclear. The present studyanalyzed the alterations in hematological parameters in fish produced by exposureto metformin (MF), an antihyperglycemic drug used for treatment of diabetes, orfluoxetine (FLX) an antidepressant, two of the most prescribed pharmaceuticalsworldwide. These compounds are known to elicit their therapeutic effects both at acentral and peripheral level, modifying the regulation of several hormone levels andin consequence, altering general health condition. Adults of the freshwater fishCichlasoma dimerus were exposed to MF (0.2, 2 or 20 µg.L -1 ), FLX (1, 25 or 100µg.L -1 ) or control conditions for a 30-day period. The concentrations used werechosen based on human therapeutic range estimations and relevant environmentaldata. Blood samples were obtained by caudal puncture at the onset and at the endof the exposure period for the determination of total glycemic concentration,hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, leucocyte differential count andhematological indices (RBC, MCV, MCH). Data was analyzed by repeatedmeasures ANOVA, followed by Tukey post-hoc comparisons. No differences inhematological parameters were observed between male and female fish. Nostatistical differences between the aforementioned hematological parameters werefound when comparing each MF or FLX concentration against the control group.These results suggest that neither MF nor FLX alter hematological parameters inthis species, commonly used biomarkers of effect for monitoring the presence ofxenobiotics in water, since they are easy to measure and show high reproducibilitybetween assays.