Immunological Effect of Cadmium in Heteropneustes fossilis Bloch.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of short-term exposure to high concentration of cadmium in fish blood. Heteropneustes fossilis were subjected for 3,6,12,24,48,72 and 96 hours tol 0 mg/1 of cadmium. Blood was sampled immediately after the end each exposure period. In the white blood cell system a decrease in total leucocytic count took place caused by a considerable drop in lymphocyte count. The percentage of neutrophils increased. However, metal exposure showed a decrease in reactive oxygen radical production. All these alterations indicated short-term exposure to cadmium in the white blood cell system produces a considerable immunosuppressive effect.