Cholinesterase measurement in Tilapia nilotica before and after an agricultural campaign in Senegal

Abstract

Measurements of the Cholinesterase activity in fish (Tilapia nilotica) were performed before and after the yearly agricultural campaign in Senegal. Following the utilization of organophosphorous compounds, the activity levels were reduced by 35.60 % for acetylcholinesterase and by 56.27 % for proprionilcholinesterase, these results referring to the liver. This factor could be used as an indicator of environmental pollution especially in developing countries where the use of such pesticides is far from being abandoned.