Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid induced sperm abnormalities and histopathological changes in mice

Objective: To explore the genotoxic potential and histopathological changes induced in liver, kidney, testis, brain and heart after using the antibiotic drug amoxicillin/clavulanic acid(4:1).Methods: The study included chromosomal aberration analysis in bone-marrow and mouse spermatocytes, induction of sperm morphological abnormalities and histopathological changes in different body organs. The drug was administrated orally at a dose of81 mg/kg body weight twice daily(Total = 162 mg/kg/day) for various periods of time equivalent to 625 mg/men(twice daily).Results: The results revealed non-significant chromosomal aberrations induced after treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid(AC) in both bone marrow and mouse spermatocytes after 7 and 10 days treatment. On the other hand, statistically significant percentages of sperm morphological abnormalities were recorded. Such percentage reached 8.10 ± 0.55, 9.86 ± 0.63 and 12.12 ± 0.58 at the three time intervals tested(7, 14 and 35 days after the 1 st treatment respectively)(treatment performed for 5 successive days) compared with 2.78 ± 0.48 for the control. The results also revealed histopathological changes in different body organs after AC treatment which increased with the prolongation of the period of therapy. Congestion of central vain, liver hemorrhage and hydropic changes in hepatocytes were noticed in the liver. Degenerative changes were found in kidney glomerulus and tubules while testis showed atrophy of seminiferous tubules, and reduction of spermatogenesis. AC also induced neurotoxicity and altered brain neurotransmitter levels. Hemorrhage in the myocardium, disruption of cardiac muscle fibers and pyknotic nuclei in cardiomyocytes were recorded as side effects of AC in heart tissue.Conclusions: The results concluded that AC treatment induced sperm morphological abnormalities and histopathological changes in different body organs. Clinicians must be aware of such results while describing the drug.

Health Risk Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Water and Sediment at Marsa-Matrouh, Mediterranean Sea, Egypt

In an attempt to evaluate the environmental quality of Marsa-Matrouh city which covered the most famous beaches in Egypt, an environmental risk assessment was performed, including a screening level ecological risk assessment. The aim of this work was to determine which metals could possibly pose toxic adverse ecological effects to marine organisms and to determine whether hot spots exist or not. To fulfill the goals of study, surfacial sediment and water samples were collected from ten different locations covering Marsa-Matrouh city during four seasons (2010-2011). The average concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn were 2.381 ± 3.389, 9.307 ± 14.159, 68.969 ± 9.397, 2.642 ± 1.004, 16.712 ± 8.469, 31.168 ± 15.322 μg/l in water and 0.755 ± 0.240, 5.363 ± 1.581, 962.131 ± 975.084, 3.972 ± 2.180, 15.210 ± 4.434 and 24.608 ± 7.706 μg/g dry weight in sediment respectively. The concentrations of the investigated six metals in water were within the acceptable limits except for two stations (Cleopatra and El-Obayed) which exhibited higher values than the permissible level of Cd during autumn 2010. Metal pollution assessment for both water and sediment was studied. Heavy metal pollution index indicates that water is not critically polluted with respect to the investigated metals. For sediment samples, threshold effect concentrations (TEC HQ) were lower than 1 except for Cd which showed higher value than 1, indicating the possibility of occurrence of toxic adverse ecological effects to benthic organisms for Cd, while rare adverse ecological effects are expected to occur with respect to Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn.

Impact Assessment of Poultry Discharge on the Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Water Quality of Olosuru Stream in Ikire, Southwestern Nigeria

This study investigated the impact assessment of poultry wastes discharge from a nearby poultry farm on the physico-chemical and microbiological water quality of Olosuru Stream, Ikire, Southwestern Nigeria. Five sampling stations (designated A, B, C, D and E) each located at 250 m interval along the course of the stream were selected for the study. The physico-chemical parameters in the water body vary in concentration along spatial, monthly and seasonal variation of Olosuru stream. The patterns of spatial distribution of physico-chemical parameters measured for the stream were generally similar except for calcium and hardness which showed significant difference for the five stations. The overall mean values of most of the parameters investigated;pH (7.45 ± 0.24), conductivity (628.69 ± 255.95 μs/cm), TDS (377.3 ± 153.55 mg/L), sulphate (10.89 ± 2.37 mg/L), BOD5 (3.19 ± 2.35 mg/L), cadmium, arsenic, manganese, total heterotrophic bacteria count (15,080.67 ± 20,250.67 cfu/ml), total coliform bacteria count (3226 ± 8426.70 cfu/ml) and total heterotrophic fungi count (2567.4 ± 7652.12 cfu/ml) were negatively impacted by poultry wastes dumping into the stream. The concentrations of most parameters exceeded recommended permissible limits of the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water and World Health Organization for freshwater quality. The water source is therefore deemed not potable and poses hazards to public health if consumed without treatment. There is urgent need for improved management strategies of this water resource for continued sustainability.

Growth Rate Assessment of Alcyonacean Sarcophyton glaucum from Northern Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt

Eighteen specimens of the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum have been collected and tagged to determine the growth rate using the weight variations technique and to investigate the reproductive season histologically. Six colonies were totally weighed and 12 fragments (produced from three colonies) were marked and weighed. Some samples showed sever shrinkage that lead to death. The maximum semiannual growth rate was recorded in summer (30.05 gm/6 m). The average monthly growth reached 3.95 gm/month. Many factors affect the growth rate such as water currents, turbidity, sedimentation, temperature and reproduction process. The studied species is a dioecious species (unisex), where the Autozooid polyps are the reproductive organs while siphonozooids are sterile. Female gonads were observed to develop at late July before male gonads which began at late September. Larvae releasing started at late January and the gonads are completely spawned in February. Fertilization occurs internally to form planulae larvae which librated completely in February. The oogenesis exhibited prolonged about 23 months, which gave rise to oocytes of different developmental stages in female colonies at any given time, and a spermatogenic cycle of only 10 - 12 months.

Preliminary data of life history traits of Mormyridae(Actinopterygii:Teleostei)in the Upper Sanaga River,Central Region of Cameroon

The present study on some biological aspects of the Mormyridae fishes,was conducted between May and August 2015 in the Upper Sanaga at L´eki´e Department(Monat´el´e Town),Center Cameroon.For this purpose,125 specimens collected by local fishermen were used.Fishes were identified and measured,and their feeding and reproductive parameters were obtained after dissection.The catch composition of 4 species(Campylomormyrus phantasticus,Mormyrops anguilloides,Mormyrus macrophtalamus,Mormyrus tapirus)of Mormyridae identified in the region was very low(17%–30%).The mean±standard deviation of total weight and total length were 103.14±37.83 g and 27.47±4.84 cm,respectively.The minimum and maximum size(of 21.1 cm and 43 cm)were recorded from C.phantasticus and M.anguilloides,respectively.The mean±standard deviation of the relative length and mass of the digestive tract were 0.35%±0.20%and 5.27%±23.20%,respectively confirming that Mormyridae fish species have a strict carnivorous diet and consume prey that are difficult to digest.The size frequency distribution of the Mormyridae fishes showed that the majority of the fish caught are small sizes in classes 23–26 cm and 26–29 cm in C.phantasticus,M.macrophthalamus and M.tapirus.M.anguilloides did not record small specimens,however,it recorded larger sized specimens(41–44 cm)compared to the rest.The sex ratio ranged from 1M:1.14F(M.anguilloides)to 1M:4F(M.tapirus),mean 1M:2.04F has been generally in favour of females.The gonadosomatic index(GSI)was generally low in all species.However,it was higher in females of C.phantasticus and M.anguilloides compared to other species.The hepatosomatic index(HSI)was weakly correlated with the GSI in these species.