The Effect of Varying Concentrations of Diesel Oil on the Intestinal Epithelium of Tilapia nilotica

Abstract

Four groups of two-month old Tilapia nilotica were exposed to oil concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 ppm for a period of two weeks. Histological sections were processed from the intestines of fish from the four groups. Comparative study of the sections from the experimental group with those from the control group yielded the following results: (1) Increase in thickness of the columnar epithelium directly proportional to the oil concentration; (2) Damage to the columnar epithelium represented by breaks/gaps in the epithelium observable only in the 15 and 20 ppm groups, (3) Damage to the lamina propria and submucosa represented by perforations observed only in the 15 and 20 ppm groups; and (4) Shorter villi observed only in the 15 and 20 ppm groups.