IMPACT OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS ON GILLS OF FRESHWATER CRAB BARYTELPHUSA CUNICULARIS (WESTWOOD, 1836)

Environmental pollution is one of the undesirable side effects of industrialization and found responsible factor for environmental degradation. Water samples and  crabs Barytelphusa cunicularis were collected  from  Gadhinglaj tahsil  and  analyzed  for  Physico- chemical  parameters  and heavy  metals respectively. The results  showed  high  range  of  pH  and  high  values  of  alkalinity,  hardness, chloride,  sulphate, TDS, COD. The heavy, metal contamination was in the order of sodium > iron >potassium. The  results  indicate  altered  physico-chemical  parameters  and heavy  metals  resulting  in  massive  destruction  of gill  architecture  which  was concentration and time dependent. Fluctuations in physico-chemical parameters has influenced gill lammelles of crab Barytelphusa cunicularis. Histopathological studies revealed noticeable changes in the gills like clumping  of  cells, detachment  of  epithelial  surface  in  primary  lamella  and  destruction  of mucosal  cells. The gills showed vacuolization in the gill stem, ruptured gill lamellae, connective tissue cells was damaged, destructed with congestion of haemocytes in the gill lamellae are observed.   The results obtained were discussed in relation to physico-chemical parameter over respiratory mechanism in crab Barytelphusa cunicularis.