Effect of Diesel Pollutant Exposure on THC, Tissues and Protein Content of Mud Crab (Scylla serrata)

Authors: Sulaida R, Nur I* and Abidin LOB

DOI: 10.23880/izab-16000334

Volume 4, Issue 5

Abstract

This research has aim to determine the toxicity of diesel fuel pollutant in reared media on haemolymph performs, tissue damage, and changes in the protein content of mud crab (S. serrata). In this research, two treatments, namely control and media contaminated with diesel (1.3852 ppm) with three individual repetitions were applied. The parameters which observed were haemolymph performance, the Total of Haemocyte Count (THC), tissue damage in gill organ and hepatopancreas, and changes in protein content. The THC observations were conducted twice, namely on the first day and the seventh day of exposure. The results of this research showed that the average value of THC of mud crab on the first day of observation for control was 1.53×107 cells/ml, while the diesel-polluted treatment was 1.41×107 cell/ml. Furthermore, on the seventh day of observation, the THC of control was 2.64×107 cell/ml, while in the treatment which polluted by diesel was lower than control (1.66×107 cell/ml). However, the THC on day 1st and day 7th for each treatment was not significant. The results of histological examination showed that necrosis of the gills while the hepatopancreas experienced vacuolization and necrosis. Then, the analysis results of protein content showed that the meat protein content initially was 54.79% on day 1st, while in the treatment group decreased significantly into 48.93% after 7 days. The survival rate of mud crab in the diesel-polluted treatment was 25% or it was lower than the control treatment which reached 75%. Water quality, especially dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH level showed significant change in the diesel-contaminated media. This study concluded that the longer it was exposured to diesel pollution, it caused changes in the metabolism of the mud crab, and it was marked by a lower in the amount of THC, tissue damage, and a decrease in protein content, especially on the seventh day after exposure. Therefore, these three parameters in the mud crabs can be used as a reference for biomonitoring the quality of the aquatic environment which caused by diesel pollution.

Keywords: Mud Crab; Diesel Pollutant; Haemolymph; Histopathology; Protein

View PDF