Sublethal effects of tetrachloroguaiacol on juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, following acute and chronic exposure

Following either a 24-h (acute) or 25-d (chronic) exposure to tetrachloroguaiacol (TeCG), a component of bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME), juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were examined for effects on several biochemical parameters, swimming performance, and disease resistance. Acute exposure resulted in increased levels of plasma cortisol and lactate and reductions in liver glycogen and protein, spleen somatic index, leucocrit, hemoglobin, swimming performance, and disease resistance. Chronic exposure resulted in most parameters remaining at control levels with the exception of leucocrit which was elevated, plasma cortisol which decreased, and disease resistance which was impaired. These findings correlate well with a previously proposed classic stress response for mammals and are generally consistent with studies in which fish were exposed to whole BKME. The 96-h LC50 for juvenile rainbow trout exposed to TeCG was estimated at 0.37 mg∙L−1.