Toxicological effect of endocrine disrupting insecticide (deltamethrin) on enzymatical, haematological and histopathological changes in the freshwater iridescent shark, Pangasius hypothalamus

This study investigated the deltamethrin (DMN) induced harmful effects on Pangasius hypophthalmus using enzymatic activity, haematological, and histopathological changes. LC₅₀ value was 0.021 mg/L at 96 h, and sublethal toxicity was tested for 45 days at two `concentrations (i.e., 1/5th and 1/10th of LC₅₀). Haematological parameters and enzymatic activities significantly changed between DMN-exposed and control groups (p < 0.05). Histopathologically, both DMN doses induced liver hyperemia, hepatic cell rupture, necrosis, hypertrepheoid bile duct, shifting nuclei, vascular haemorrhage, and hepatocyte degeneration, while in gill, secondary lamellae destruction, a fusion of adjacent gill lamellae, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, adhesion, and fusion were noticed. Kidney developed melanomacrophages, increased periglomerular and peritubular space, vacuolation, decreased glomerulus, hyaline droplets in tubular cells, loss of tubular epithelium, distal convoluted segment hypertrophy, and granular layer in brain pyramid and Purkinje cell nucleus. But, limiting pesticide impacts on freshwater fish and their habitat requires a holistic, cradle-to-grave approach and toxicological studies.