Impact of Sublethal Propoxur Exposure on Kidney Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Tilapia mossambica (Peters)

The present study examined the detrimental effects of propoxur (2-isopropoxyphenyl N-methyl carbamate) on the kidneys of Tilapia mossambica (Peters) to assess the acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) enzyme and its toxicity on behaviour. Propoxur is extremely toxic to Tilapia mossambica, with a median lethal concentration (LC) of 0.52 ± 0.01 mL/L. The parameters of kidney AChE were analysed after exposure to a sublethal concentration (0.065 ml/L) for periods of 15 and 30 days. Propoxur significantly (P<0.001) inhibited kidney AChE, with reductions of 25.78% and 44.73% observed after 15 and 30 days of exposure, respectively. The changes in behavioural responses underscore the adverse effects of propoxur on fish. These results indicate that propoxur poses a risk to the environment and, by extension, to humans.

Propoxur, kidney, Tilapia mossambica

1. Ahmed S.A. Sabullah, M.K. Shamaan, N.A. Shukor, M.Y.A. Jirangon H. Khalid A. Syed M.A. (2016): Evaluation of Acetylcholinesterase Source From Fish, Tor Tambroides for Detection of Carbamate. J Environ Biol. 2016 Jul;37(4):479-84. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. APHA. (1995): Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water. (19th ed.) American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Cope W.G. (2004): Exposure classes, toxicants in air, water, soil, domestic and occupational settings. In: A T.B. of Modern Toxicology (Ed.: E. Hodgson). John Wiley and Sons Inc., New Jersey, USA, pp. 33-48. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Crestani M., Menezes C., Glusczak L., Dos Santos Miron D., Spanevello R., Silveira A., Gonçalves F.F., Zanella R. and Loro V.L. (2007): Effect of clomazone herbicide on biochemical and histological aspects of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) and recovery pattern. Chemosphere, 67: 2305–2311. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Das B.K. and Mukherjee S.C. (2003): Toxicity of cypermethrin in Labeo rohita fingerlings: biochemical, enzymatic and haematological consequences. Comp. Biochem. & Physiol. Part C., 134: 109-121. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Duodoroff P., Anderson B.G., Burdwick G.E., Galtsaff P.S., Hart W.B., Patrick R., Strong E.R., Surber E.W. and Vanhern, W.M. (1951) : Standard methods for determination of LC50 values. Sew. Indust. Water, 23, 130 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Dutta H.M. and Arends D.A. (2003): Effects of endosulfan on brain acetylcholinesterase activity in juvenile bluegill sunfish. Environ. Res., 91: 157-162. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Fernandes C. A. Fontainhas-Fernandes E. Rocha and M.A. Salgado (2008): Monitoring pollution in Esmoriz Paramos lagoon, Portugal: Kidney histological and biochemical effects in Liza saliens. Environ. Monit. Assess., 145: 315-322. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Fernandes L. S., Emerick G. L., Santos N. A. de Paula E. S., Barbosa F. B. F. Jr., Santos A. C. (2015): In vitro study of the neuropathic potential of the organophosphorus compounds trichlorfon and acephate. 29 522–528. 10.1016/j.tiv.2015.01.001 [PubMed] [CrossRef] [GoogleScholar]. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Fukuto T. R. (1990): Mechanism of action of organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides. 87 245–254. 10.1289/ehp.9087245 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [GoogleScholar] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Gupta R.C. (1994): Carbofuran toxicity: invited review. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 43: 383-418. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Hualing Fu. Yingjie Xia. Yangsheng Chen. Tuan Xu. Li Xu. Zhiling Guo. Haiming Xu. Heidi Qunhui Xie and Bin Zhao. (2018): Acetylcholinesterase Is a Potential Biomarker for a Broad Spectrum of Organic Environmental Pollutants, Environ. Sci. Technol. 52(15), 8065–8074. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Joseph B. and Raj S.J. (2011): Impact of pesticide toxicity on selected biomarkers in fishes. Int. J. Zool. Res., 7: 212-222. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Kumar A. and Chapman J.C. (2001): Profenofos residues in wild fish from cotton-growing areas of New South Wales, Australia. J. Environ. Qual., 30: 740–750. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Lowry O.H. Rosenbrough N.J. Farr A. L. and J. Randall. (1951). Protein measurement with the Folin-phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 193, .265-275, 1951. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Metcalf R.L. (1951): Methods in biochemical Analysis. D.Click (Ed.).New York: Intrinsic Publishers Inc. 1. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Rao J.V. (2004). Effects of monocrotophos and its analogues on acetylcholinesterase activity inhibition and its pattern of recovery on euryhaline fish, Oreochromis mossambicus. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safe, 59: 217–222. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Rao J.V. (2006): Toxic effects of novel organophosphorous insecticide (RPR-V) on certain biochemical parameters of euryhaline fish, Oreochromis mossambicus. Pest. Biochem. and Physiol., 86: 78-84. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Rao J.V. Begum G. Sridhar V. and Reddy N.C. (2005): Sublethal effects of monocrotophos on locomotor behaviour and gill architecture of the mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis. J. Environ. Sci. Health, 40(6): 813 25. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Rao J.V. Shilpanjali D. Kavitha P. and Madhavendra S.S. (2003): Toxic effects of profenofos on tissue acetylcholinesterase and gill morphology in a euryhaline fish Oreochromis mossambicus. Arch. Toxicol. 77: 227–232. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Sharma, R. (2026). Inhibition and recovery of acetylcholinesterase activity in the fish Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) following exposure to Annona squamosa leaf extract. International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS), 15(2), 1716–1719. https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.15020000145 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Sharma, R., Kumar, S., Tembhre, M., & Namdeo, A. (2020). Manifestation of toxic effects of propoxur on acetylcholinesterase and histology of the kidney of Tilapia mossambica (Peters). Asian Journal of Experimental Sciences, 34(2), 19–24. http://www.ajesjournal.com [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Singh S. and Srivastava N. (1998): Histopathological changes in the kidney of the fish, Nandus nandus, exposed to endosulfan and carbaryl. J. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Monit. 8 (2), 139-144. Srivastava A.K. and Singh N N. (1982). Acute toxicity of propoxur on carbohydrate metabolism of Indian catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis). Toxicology Letters - 11(12)31-34. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Wang C., Lu G. and Cui J. Wang P. (2009): Sublethal effects of pesticide mixtures on selected biomarkers of Carassius auratus, Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, Volume 28(3), 414-419. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Yadav C. Kumar V. Suke S. and Ahmad R.S. (2010): Propoxur-induced acetylcholinesterase inhibition and impairment of cognitive function; Attenuation by Withania somnifera.Indian J.Biochem.Biophys, 47:117-120. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Nest-Building Behaviour in Ants: Structural Adaptations and Environmental Interactions
• Diversity of Spiders and Seasonal Variation Surrounding “Madosilli Waterfall” Sarangarh-Bilaigarh District, Chhattisgarh, India.
• Assessment of Lipid Peroxidation in Liver and Heart Of D-Galagctose Induced Chick Embryo
• Avian Diversity in and Around Nazare Dam, Jejuri, Pune District, Maharashtra, India
• Integrative Morphological and Molecular Classification of Culex vishnui Larvae from Diverse Ecological Habitats of Uttar Pradesh