Histopathological Studies of Gills, Liver and Gonads of Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus Collected from Rivers Ureje and Ogbese in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

This study investigated the histopathology of the gills, liver and gonads of Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus collected from Rivers Ureje and Ogbese in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Samples were prepared and examined according to standard procedures. Histological alterations were then observed in the gills, liver or gonads of most fish from these rivers, including circulatory disturbances such as telangiectasia and epithelial lifting, hyperplasia of mucous cells and epithelial cells between secondary lamellae, structural alterations in the form of fusion and branching of primary and secondary lamellae, and regressive changes in the form of intracellular alterations within gill epithelial cells. The results of this study indicated that Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus from the two rivers are indeed responding to some stressors which should be monitored and regulated to ensure sustainable living and conservation of aquatic biodiversity and maintenance of human health.