HEMATOLOGICAL CHANGES INDUCED BY IMIDACLOPRID IN CLARIAS BATRACHUS (MAGUR)

Imidacloprid is a Neonicotinoid pesticide extensively utilized in Indian agriculture to manage insect pests.Its water solubility and systemic nature are widely acknowledged to present a risk of contaminating adjacent water bodies.The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Imidacloprid pesticide on the hematological parameters of Clarias batracus. In a controlled experimental setting, various sub-lethal concentrations (3, and 4 ppm) of Imidacloprid were administered at different time intervals. The impact of the pesticide was more pronounced in the short-term experiments. Hematological alterations were observed in the fish blood, where the hemoglobin (Hb), Red blood cells (RBCs), Packed cell volume (PCV), Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin(MCH) declined with increasing concentrations, while the white blood cells (WBCs) increased under the same conditions.The results demonstrate statistical significance at the P < 0.05 level. These findings demonstrate that Imidacloprid can lead to significant variations in the hematological characteristics and induce a certain level of stress in fish. Therefore, the hematological factors of fish could serve as a sensitive tool for assessing their health status.