Responses of circulating fish phagocytes to paper mill effluent exposure

Investigations were carried out on the freely circulating phagocytes (macrophages) of an air-breathing catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis Bloch. The objective was to evaluate fish immune system under the environmental chemical induced stress. Short-term and long-term responses of circulating phagocytes of fish peritoneal cavity and those found adhered to gills towards exposure to paper mill effluent were determined. The results lead to the conclusion that a biological response to an environmental pollutant largely depends on the type of pollutant in question.