175 Document heading doi:10.12980/JCLM.2.2014J57 襃 2014 by the Journal of Coastal Life Medicine. All rights reserved. Immunological, hematological and biochemical changes induced by short term exposure to cadmium in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Mohamed El-Said El-Boshy 1,2* , Hossam Ali Gadalla 1 , Fatma Mostafa Abd El-Hamied 1 1 Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University 35516, Egypt 2 Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia Journal of Coastal Life Medicine 2014; 2(3): 175-180 Journal of Coastal Life Medicine *Corresponding author: Mohamed El-Said El-Boshy, Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University 35516, Egypt; Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia. E-mail: dr_elboshy@yahoo.com 1. Introduction Dissolved metals occur naturally in trace amounts in the aquatic environment; however, through industry they may be transported, concentrated, changed into other forms and are reintroduced into the aquatic system as contaminations. Consequently, fishes in contaminated areas are often exposed to much higher concentrations or to chemical forms different than those that are normally in the environment [1] . Cadmium (Cd) is a naturally occurring metallic element that is used for electroplating and galvanization processes in the production of pigments in batteries, as a chemical reagent, and in miscellaneous industrial processes [2] . The cadmium in ionic, colloidal, complexes or particulate forms is taken up by aquatic organisms. In fish, cadmium is mainly taken in through the gills while accumulation via their food seems less important [3,4] . Cadmium toxicity in freshwater fish has been extensive investigated. Anemia was documented in Oreochromis mossambicus and Channa punctatus intoxicated with different doses of cadmium [5,6] respectively. Schuwerack et al [7] reported leukocytosis, neutrophilia and eosinophilia in Cyprinus carpio ( C. carpio ) exposed to sublethal concentrations of cadmium. Alteration of some serum PEER REVIEW ABSTRACT KEYWORDS Cadmium, Immune response, Hematological parameters, Biochemical parameters, Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Objective: To investigate the hematological, biochemical and immunological changes in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (C. gariepinus) experimental exposed to cadmium. Methods: C. gariepinus were exposed to different concentrations of cadmium (Cd) (0, 2, 5, and 10 mg/L) for 3 weeks. Blood samples were collected for assessing some hematological, biochemical and immunological studies at the end of experiment. Results: The results showed marked normocytic normochromic anemia, leukocytosis, neutrophilia and lymphopenia in 5, 10 mg/L in cadmium exposed fish. Also the blood level activities of ALT and AST significantly increased, as well as glucose, creatinine, urea, potassium and uric acid. Meanwhile total protein, albumin and sodium were significantly decreased at 5, 10 mg/L of cadmium exposed fish. The immunological parameters in cadmium exposed experimental dose groups decreased serum bactericidal activity, lysozyme, neutrophils adhesion test as well as decreased resistance to Aeromonas hydrophilla with increasing exposure dose seemed to correspond with suppressive of non-specific immune functions. Conclusions: The treatment of C. gariepinus with cadmium under the same conditions had immunosuppressive and decrease diseases resistance in a dose-dependent effect. Peer reviewer D r. A zime K ÜÇÜKG ÜL , T unceli University, Fisheries Faculty, TR62000, Tunceli, Turkey. Tel: 0090 (428) 213 17 94 E-mail: agulec@tunceli.edu.tr; akucukgul@tunceli.edu.tr Comments G enerally, this is a potential research work in which authors have demonstrated that the hematological, biochemical and immunological changes in catfish (Clarias gariepinus) experimental doses exposed to cadmium. Anemia and increases in biochemical and hematological parameters were observed in higher dose cadmium exposed fish. Details on Page 179 Article history: Received 3 Feb 2014 Received in revised form 13 Feb, 2nd revised form 20 Feb, 3rd revised form 25 Feb 2014 Accepted 10 March 2014 Available online 28 March 2014 journal homepage: www.jclmm.com