ACUTE COPPER POISONING OF CULTURED MARINE TELEOSTS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 38  (4) , 525-527
Abstract
Cu was accidentally introduced into seawater entering a circular outdoor tank used to culture 610 pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) and other marine teleosts [Archosargus probatocephalus, Lutjanus griseus, L. synagris, Centropristis striata, Mycteroperca microlepis, Diplodus holbrooki]. Fish were exposed for 23 h to Cu concentrations between 0.2 ppm and 7.2 ppm with an average concentration of 3.3 ppm. The pinfish were lethargic by 6 h after Cu was introduced into the tank. Deaths began within 10 h with a total of 575 (94%) deaths. Deaths stopped 11 h after Cu concentrations decreased below 0.2 ppm and signs of distress stopped in surviving pinfish by approximately 6 h after the last death. Serum urea N, alkaline phosphatase, Na+ and K+ concentrations were increased and represent those constituents which differ from mean control values by more than 2 SD. Electrolyte imbalance, apparently resulting from impaired osmoregulation and hemolysis, was a serious terminal condition in Cu-poisoned pinfish.

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