Effect of some heavy metals on the biochemical parameters of the freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium nipponense (De Haan, 1849)

The current study aimed to determine the biochemical parameters, including glucose, total protein, cholesterol, and enzymes of AST and ALT, in freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium. nipponense after exposure to different sub-lethal concentrations of heavy metals, including iron, copper, lead, and cadmium. Samples of M. nipponense were collected from Shatt Al-Arab, Southern Iraq. The experiment was carried out in a recycling aquaculture system (RAS) consisting of plastic containers, each of 60 liters. Four different treatments were used, each treatment representing three concentrations of Iron (1.5, 2, and 2.5 ppm), Copper (0.25, 0.35, and 9.45 ppm), Lead (0.05, 0.125, and 0.175 ppm), and Cadmium (0.05, 0.1, and 0.17 ppm), in addition to the control group. The results showed a significant decrease in all biochemical parameters compared to the control one. According to the study results, AST and ALT were significantly increased compared to the control. In addition, liver enzymes and biochemical parameters are significantly impacted by heavy metals. This confirms that liver enzymes and biochemical parameters may be biomarkers to monitor heavy metal pollution.