Histological changes in the gill & hepatopancreas of the marine crabs <i>Chrybdis lucifera</i> (Fabricus) & Scylla serrata (Forskal) exposed to crude oil emulsion

Abstract

Toxic effects of different concentrations of crude oil from Bombay High on <i>C. lucifera</i> and <i>S. serrata</i> were compared. <i>C. lucifera</i>, inhabiting deep waters, was much more susceptible to toxicity of oil-in-water emulsions than <i>S. serrata</i>, an intertidal species. Histological examination of treated crabs revealed pronounced pathological changes i.e., rupture of lamellae due to heavy accumulation of haemocytes, fusion of lamellae and epithelial damage in gills and zonal tubular damage in hepatopancreas. Tissue damage observed in these species correlates well with the percentage mortality.