Histopathological changes in the livers of rabbit fish (Siganus canaliculatus) following exposure to crude oil and dispersed oil.

The present study aimed to assess the impact of acute exposure to crude oil, dispersed oil, and dispersant alone on the liver of the rabbit fish (Siganus canaliculatus). Histopathological effects in the liver were observed at different time points (3 to 21 days) and different concentrations (3-100% water accommodated fraction [WAF]) to simulate a range of possible oil pollution events. The main alterations observed in this study include lipid accumulation, necrosis, bile stagnation, megalocytosis, cholangitis, and spongiosis hepatis. The liver of fish exposed to WAF, dispersed oil, or dispersant showed significant histopathologic alterations compared with the control fish (Mann-Whitney U test; p < .01). Reaction pattern indices (circulatory, degenerative, proliferative, and inflammatory changes) of treated fish differed significantly from the control groups. There was a significant correlation between exposure time and the occurrence of most lesions (Spearman correlation; p > .05). The present study indicates that oil pollution can cause important alterations to livers of adult rabbit fish and that the dispersed oil is slightly more toxic than crude oil or dispersant.