Research Product

This study compares serum chemistry values for brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) from the industrially contaminated Black River, Ohio, with the rural and relatively uncontaminated Old Woman Creek, Ohio. Fifty-two percent (24 of 46) brown bullheads over 3-years-old had liver neoplasms: 30% (14) were of hepatocellular origin, not including 17% (8) that had foci of hepatocellular alteration and 48% (22) of cholangiocellular origin. Eleven fish had both types of liver tumors. In addition to liver tumors, four fish had squamous cell carcinomas, one had an epidermal papilloma and one had a mesothelioma. Only 1 of the 30 reference fish had a neoplasm of any type, a low grade cholangiocellular carcinoma. Of the 20 serum parameters measured, the mean values of nine were significantly different between the two populations. Seven of the nine were higher in the Black River fish (alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, total protein, blood urea nitrogen, triglycerides and calcium). In contrast, manganese and inorganic phosphate were significantly lower. However, in individual fish, none of the serum parameters were significantly correlated with either type of liver neoplasm or either parasitosis.