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Histopathological changes of gills and caudal fins isolated from fishes, Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus, and Hernibarbus labeo, which were killed by oxygen deficiency or toxic chemicals, were studied. The toxic chemicals were HCl, NaOH, chloroform, benzene, heavy metals(Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, Hg), and o-dichlorobenzene. The exposure level was enough to kill the fishes within 30 minutes. Oxygen deficient water was prepared by aeration of nitrogen gas and the oxygen concentration was less than l ppm. Cryocutting was used for the rapid preparation of tissue slides and the tissues were stained by hematoxylin/eosin. In the fishes killed by hazardous chemicals, congestion and/or hyperplasia of secondary lamella and erosion of fin were found as the major histopathological changes. Whereas, these characteristics were not observed in gills or caudal fins of fishes killed by oxygen deficiency. These different bioindications appeared in the fishes killed by toxic substances or natural causes, can be used for the rapid identification of the causes of fish kills.
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