Active biomonitoring of a subtropical river using glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and heat shock proteins (HSP 70) in Oreochromis niloticus as surrogate biomarkers of metal contamination

Authors

  • Victor Kurauone Muposhi Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Chinhoyi University of Technology, P. Bag 7724, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
  • Beaven Utete Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
  • Idah Sithole-Niang Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
  • Stanley Mukangenyama Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, P O Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v41i3.15

Keywords:

enzymes, biomarkers, heavy metals, Nile tilapia, bioassessment, Pote River

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the level of water quality impairment along a mine effluent receiving river, Pote River in Zimbabwe, using Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) as an indicator organism. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzyme and heat shock protein (HSP 70) expression in the stomach tissue of Nile tilapia were used as biomarkers of heavy metal pollution. Water and fish samples were collected at three sites in the Pote River. Metal concentration in tilapia tissues and water were measured using flame acetylene absorption spectrophotometry while enzymatic activity was determined using ultra-violet spectrophotometry. The concentration of Ni and Zn in water was significantly high compared to the World Health Organization aquatic effluent standards. Cd and Zn were strongly associated with high GST activity and low HSP 70 protein concentrations in fish tissues. Results of this study show that HSP 70 protein and GST enzyme activity can be useful biomarkers of metal contamination in lotic systems.

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Published

2015-04-21

How to Cite

Victor Kurauone Muposhi, Beaven Utete, Idah Sithole-Niang, & Stanley Mukangenyama. (2015). Active biomonitoring of a subtropical river using glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and heat shock proteins (HSP 70) in Oreochromis niloticus as surrogate biomarkers of metal contamination. Water SA, 41(3 April). https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v41i3.15

Issue

Vol. 41 No. 3 April (2015): Water SA

Section

Research paper

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Victor Kurauone Muposhi, Beaven Utete, Idah Sithole-Niang, Stanley Mukangenyama

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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