HEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSE IN THE BLOOD OF ALBURNUS TARICHI (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIFORMES: CYPRINIDAE) EXPOSED TO TEBUCONAZOLE

Background. Lake Van, the second-largest soda lake in the world, has a pH 9.8 value. A fish, locally known as Van fish, Alburnus tarichi (Guldenstadt, 1814), is an endemic fish of Lake Van and known also as pearl mullet, tarek, or Van bleak. Tebuconazole is a widely used pesticide around Lake Van. In this study, we will focus on the effects of tebuconazole on Van fish blood to provide critical information on the environmental risk assessment of pesticides in various aquatic environments. Materials and methods. The Van fish were exposed to tebuconazole for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h at a concentration of 2.5 mg.L-1. Subsequently, the resulting hematological and biochemical parameters were determined. Results. There was a statistically significant decrease in erythrocytes (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct) in the blood parameters (P < 0.05). The levels of serum, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, and creatine increased significantly (P < 0.05). The serum cortisol level increased significantly at all hours after the administration of tebuconazole (P < 0.05). Conclusions. As a result, toxicity caused by pesticides caused negative changes in the biochemical and hematological values of Van fish. Changes in these parameters have shown that it can be used as a biomarker for toxicity.