Journal of Environmental Biology

Toxicity of gold nanoparticles on the survival and hatching rates of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) embryo and larvae

K. Marimuthu¹, R. Subramaniam¹, B. Lertanantawong², S.Y. Lee¹, J.F. Borgio³, S.M.N. Amin^4,5, S. Abdul Azeez³, M.A. Rahman⁶ and A. Arshad⁴* 

¹Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, Bedong, 08100, Malaysia

²Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand

³Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultation (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, 342217176, Saudi Arabia

⁴Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

⁵FAO World Fisheries University, Pukyong National University, Nam-gu, Busan 48547, South Korea

⁶Department of Fisheries and Marine Bioscience, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jasore, 7408, Bangladesh

*Corresponding Author Email : azizarshad@upm.edu.my

Paper received: 21.12.2019 ?????? ???????????????????????????????????????Revised received: 17.02.2020 ???????????? ???????????????????????????????????????Accepted: 14.08.2020

Abstract

Aim: African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was selected model organism in this study to investigate the toxic effects of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on its embryonic and larval development.

Methodology: Mortality, hatching rate and malformation of C. gariepinus embryo and larvae exposed to AuNPs were observed and recorded.

Results: The study found that as AuNPs concentration increased, the embryo's hatching rate and larvae's survival rate decreased. A higher concentration of AuNPs (>10 mg l^-1) induced toxicity in fish embryo. In contrast, exposure to AuNPs induced embryonic malformations such as pericardial edema, yolk sac edema, neck, and head defects.

Interpretation: The results obtained in the study provides additional details with the present understanding of possible ecotoxicological effects of AuNPs and reinforce to closely monitor the release of AuNPs into the aquatic environment.

Keywords: African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, Embryo toxicity, Gold nanoparticles?

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