Gill Histopathological Effects of PAHs on Adult Pearl Oyster, Pinctada radiata at Al-Khiran Coast in Kuwait

Abstract

The hazardous effect of water pollution on the histopathology of gill organ of the pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata was studied with respect to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in Al-Khiran coast at Kuwait. Thirty oyster samples from each site, site one where dead oysters were located, site two which is two kilometers away from site one and the control site which is ten kilometers away from site one were collected from Al-Khiran area where a massive number of dead oysters were reported. The gills of oysters were immediately removed and transferred to Bouin’s solution for fixation and then processed for sectioning, staining and mounting and gill tissues were ready for examination. Histopathological changes in gills of oysters exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in site one and site two included necrosis and edemas of branchial lamellae, complete degeneration of gill filaments, loss of regular shape and haemolysis, and inflammation. Gill tissues of oysters from the control site had normal appearance. The study showed a clear evidence that PAHs caused severe histopathological changes in gills of pearl oyster Pinctada radiata.