The dietborne Cu in minute concentrations are essential for vital functions in fish, whereas Cd is not essential for any vital activities. Fish diets may probably contaminated with some items as metals. Therefore, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is used to assess the toxic effects of contaminated diets with Cu, Cd or their mixture. It was recorded that, the condition factor (K), the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and gonadosomatic index (GSI) exhibited marked reduction for fish fed dietborne Cu, Cd, Cu+Cd. The total sarcoplasmic protein showed a mild reduction after 10 days of exposure to dietborne metals. It was increased markedly after 20, 30 days. Similarly, the total sarcoplasmic nitrogen content of O. niloticus was increased. The total plasma protein, albumin and globulin contents were increased due to high dietary Cu or Cd or Cu+Cd intake. Fish fed on Cu contaminated diet for 10 days, exhibited disappearance of last four sarcoplasmic protein fractions (sensitive proteins). Also, Cd contaminated diet for 10 days induced disappearance of sarcoplasmic protein 9th fractions. Feeding on Cu+Cd contaminated diet for 10 days, caused disappearance of the last sarcoplasmic protein fraction, bands number 7 and 8 were faintly appeared. In conclusion, the fish diet contaminated with Cu, Cd or their mixture induced deleterious effects of fish body indices as well as sarcoplasmic protein pattern. Thus, it could be mention that high dietborne intake of tested metals induced toxic effects of O. niloticus |
