Acute Toxicity of Profenofos on Hemato‐Biochemical Parameters and Peripheral Erythrocytes in Banded Gourami ( <i>Trichogaster fasciata</i> )

The indiscriminate and excessive use of pesticides ultimately reaches the aquatic ecosystems and results in detrimental impacts on fish and other aquatic species. The current study focused on elucidating the acute toxic effects of the organophosphate pesticide, profenofos, on various blood biomarkers in banded gourami (Trichogaster fasciata). Fish were subjected to different sub-lethal concentrations (0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40% of the 96-h LC₅₀ = 2972.7 μg/L) of profenofos for 1, 24, and 96 h. Fish exposed to profenofos induced a significant rise (p < 0.05) in glucose, white blood cell levels, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin and a subsequent decrease in hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and packed cell volume. Furthermore, erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities such as micronucleus, notched nucleus, karyopyknosis, and blebbed nucleus, and erythrocytic cellular abnormalities such as elongated, fusion, spindle, tear-drop, and twin-shaped cells were observed. These abnormalities displayed a dose- and time-dependent increase compared with the control. This study underscores the detrimental impact of the prevalent utilization of profenofos within aquatic environments and highlights the need for interdisciplinary actions to conserve the aquatic environment as well as the aquatic biota.