Toxicoiogv Letters, 14 (1982) 237-241 Elsevier Biomedical Press 237 HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF zyxwvutsrqpo HETEROPNEUSTES FOSSILIS UNDER THE STRESS OF CONGO RED (DIPHENYL DISAZO BINAPHTHIONIC ACID) (Dye-toxicated fish; hematobiochemistry) M.L. SHARMA*, K.A. GOEL **, A.K. AWASTHI and S.K. TYAGI ~epa~tm~~t of Zoology, D.A. V. {F.G.) Colfege, ~u~affa~nagar 251001 ffndia) (Received June 21st, 1982) (Accepted June 25th, 1982) SUMMARY The effects of the sublethal concentration (0.012%) of Congo Red on Heferopneustes fossilis were studied after 30 days exposure. The RBC count haemoglobin (Hb)% and PCV decreased significantly. The total WBC count, MCV, MCH, and MCHC showed a significant increase. Serum calcium, serum cholesterol and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly elevated, whereas serum phosphorus was significantly reduced. The activities of serum alkaline phosphatase (AlPase), acid phosphatase (AcPase). RNase, GOT, GPT and amylase were also significantly elevated. The possible reasons for these changes are discussed. INTRODUCTION The effluents from textile printing and dyeing industries are discharged into in- land waters. These wastes contain many dyes which may put the fish under chemical stress and produce changes which may be reflected in the biood picture. Changes induced in the haematology of Heteropneustesfossilis by one such dye, Bismark brown [l] have been reported. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of another textile dye, Congo Red (diphenyl disazo binaphthionic acid) on the haematoiogy of the same fish. *Prof. of Biology, State University of New York at Fredonia, NY 14063 (U.S.A.). **TO whom reprint requests should be sent. Abbreviations:AcPase, acid phosphatase; AlPase, alkaline phosphatase; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; DO, dissofved oxygen; Hb, haemogiobin. 0378-4274/82/~-~/~02.75 0 Elsevier Biomedical Press