Abstract

BIOCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS IN BAY SCALLOPS (PLACOPECTEN MAGELLANICUS) EXPOSED TO CRUDE OIL

Onisogen Simeon Edori* and Joshua Lelesi Konne

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the biochemical alterations in the muscle and digestive system of the bay scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) exposed to 0.00, 2.50, 5.00 and 10.00 mL/L crude oil concentrations. The scallops were taken out of the toxicant media at intervals of 3, 6 and 24 hours for analysis. The parameters monitored were total protein (TP), total cholesterol (CHOL), creatinine (CREAT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the muscle and digestive systems of the organisms. The results showed that the metabolites (TP, CHOL and CREAT) fluctuated in the exposed concentrations and at the different times of examination. The trends of variation in both tissues of the animal were irregular and CHOL the lowest of the parameters recorded. However, the enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) showed a general increase in activity in the various exposure concentrations, though such increase was not concentration and time dependent. The most notable increase in activity was observed in ALP in the digestive system at the 6 hours interval in 2.50 mL/L concentration which was 155.34 ± 3.58 IU/L. The results indicated that exposure of scallops to crude oil contamination or pollution caused some biochemical alterations that were tissue specific.

Keywords: Bay scallops, crude oil, pollutants, muscle, Digestive system.