Mercury-induced blood anomalies in the freshwater teleost

Experimental Hg poisoning in the fish, Barbus conchonius led to marked hematological anomalies. Acute exposure to 181 μg L^?1 mercuric chloride (96 h LC50) led to erythrocytic anomalies including vacuolation, nuclear deterioration, microcytosis and collapsed cytoplasmic membranes. In addition, there was significant thrombocytosis and neutropenia together with a slight reduction in lymphocyte count. Chronic exposure to 36 and 60 μg L^?1 mercuric chloride led to poikilocytosis, hypochromia, fragmentation and nuclear displacement in erythrocytes. The large lymphocytes revealed vacuolation, cellular and nuclear hypertrophy and cytoplasmic outgrowths. Thrombocytosis, lymphocytosis, neutropenia and mild basophilia were manifested in fish subjected to chronic poisoning.