Quinalphos induced Histoarchitectural Alterations in Fresh Water Fish, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters)

Acute toxicity of commercial grade organophosphate insecticide, Quinalphos (25% EC) on gill, liver and muscle of fresh water fish, Oreochromis mossambicus was studied. The estimated LC50 value of quinalphos with 95% confidence levels was found 0.56?l/L, at 96 hr. 1/10th and 1/25th of 96 hr LC50 values were taken as sub lethal concentrations. After 5 days of exposure period fishes were sacrificed and gill, liver and muscle were dissected out and histopathological changes were studied. Several histopathological alterations were observed in all the tissues which were dose dependent as the cellular changes were more expressed with increase in concentration. Histopathological studies can be used as suitable biomarker in the evaluation of the health of the organism exposed to pesticides.