Tricyclazole Induced Alterations in Certain Biomarker Enzymes of an Indian Paddy-field Fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch)

Tricyclazole, a systemic fungicide is recommended to treat of diseases in irrigated rice. Channa punctatus (Bloch) is a freshwater fish also found in paddy fields. This maiden study was designed to evaluate acute toxicity of tricyclazole and its responses of certain biomarker enzymes in Channa punctatus. By regression analysis method, 24, 48, 72 and 96hr-LC50 dose of tricyclazole was calculated 54.30, 36.76, 32.63 and 25.06 mg l-1 respectively. The range of LC50 dose indicates highly toxic nature of tricyclaozole. Fish were then exposed to 0.25 and 1.25 mg l-1 sublethal dose of tricyclazole for short term (24, 48 and 96 hours) and long term (15, 30 and 45 days) exposure and the alterations of enzyme activities were determined. Alkaline phosphatase activities exposed to 0.25 mg l-1 were increased insignificantly (p>0.05) after 24 hours but increased significantly (p<0.05) to 0.25 and 1.25 mg l-1 tricyclazole at all other treatments. Alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase increased significantly (p<0.05) in response to tricyclazole during both exposures. These findings may be used in the assessment of the potential risk of tricyclazole on food chain and aquatic ecosystems.