EFFECTS OF EDIFENPHOS AND GLYPHOSATE ON THE IMMUNE-RESPONSE AND PROTEIN-BIOSYNTHESIS OF BOLTI FISH (TILAPIA-NILOTICA)

The effects of 1/1000 field recommended concentration of the organopho sphorus compounds; edifenphos and glyphosate on the immune response an d protein contents were investigated after different time intervals. T he cell mediated immune response assessed by proliferative response of splenocytes to mitogens; phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) for T cell and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for B cell decreased s ignificantly in tems of the level of stimulation index in the treated fish and reached maximal depression after 4 weeks. Humoral immunity as sessed as splenic antibody plaque forming cells (PFC) measured after 5 days in vitro immunization to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC's) were suppre ssed in a concentration dependent pattern by the two compounds. The es timated ED50 for the PFC/10(6) cells of edifenphos and glyphosate were 1.48 x 10(-2) uM and 1.65 x 10(-2) uM respectively. The data also sho wed that serum antibody titres in the treated fish were decreased in a time dependent manner. The total protein content of serum treated wit h the two pesticides was decreased after different time periods compar ed with control. The blood serum of treated and untreated Tilapia nilo tica were analyzed electrophoretically for protein components and the percentage of proteins in each fraction was determined.