Nitrite-induced anemia in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01701761· OSTI ID:7244243

Tucker, C S ^[1]; Francis-Floyd, R; Beleau, M H ^[2]

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1. Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Stoneville (USA)
2. College of Veterinary Medicine, Stoneville, MS (USA)

Since 1983 numerous cases of anemia have been reported in populations of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque cultured in the southeastern United States. Environmental nitrite-nitrogen concentrations of 4 mg/L or more occur sporadically in channel catfish culture ponds, and the frequency of occurrence is greatest in the fall and spring. The authors have observed that some cases of anemia in populations of pond-raised channel catfish follow prolonged exposure to high concentrations of environmental nitrite. However, there was no evidence that exposure of channel catfish to environmental nitrite was the cause of the observed anemia. Hemolytic anemia following nitrite exposure has been described for sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) and rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri, but not for channel catfish. In the present study the authors show that a variable, but generally mild, anemia develops in channel catfish exposed to nitrite. They also offer a management procedure for preventing the development of anemia during periods of elevated environmental nitrite concentrations.

• OSTI ID: 7244243
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA), Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA) Vol. 43:2; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMMONIA
ANEMIAS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
DISEASES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ETIOLOGY
FEDERAL REGION IV
FISHES
HEMIC DISEASES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MISSISSIPPI
NITRITES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SYMPTOMS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION