Abstract

Pawpaw seed meal (PSM) can be used as an antifertility agent in animals, however there is no information on its potential toxicological effect on Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus). In this study the effect of PSM on the liver, blood haematological and biochemical parameters of O. mossambicus juveniles was assessed to ascertain its suitability as a reproductive suppressant. The PSM was administered at an inclusion level of 10 g and 30 g/kg of a commercial tilapia diet (basal diet, BD) for 30 and 60 days, respectively. The potential toxicological effect was assessed by determining the extent of change in the normal haematological (RBC count, haematocrit, haemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC, thrombocyte count, absolute WBC and differential cell counts) and biochemical (cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin and glucose) parameters. Haematological and biochemical profiles of different treatment groups did not differ throughout the course of the investigation. Liver weight and hepatosomatic index values of the treated fish were comparable to those of the control. The absence of any effect of the blood parameters measured in this study also indicate that PSM has no compromising influence on the immune system of the fish, indicating that PSM can be considered as a safe alternative to induce masculinization in Mozambique tilapia, and therefore act as a reproductive inhibitor.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.