Induction of Micronuclei, Cellular Stress Response, and DNA Strand Breakage in Two Common Fish Species From Rivers and Reservoirs in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Indiscriminate discharge of home, agricultural, and industrial wastes into water bodies, most rivers and reservoirs around the world are becoming polluted. The ecotoxicological potential of this in sh species gathered from important reservoirs and rivers in Ilorin, Nigeria, was explored in this study. Unilorin reservoir, Asa reservoir, Apodu reservoir, Asa river (Unity), and Asa river (Unity) water samples were collected and physicochemical characteristics were investigated at ve distinct sites: Unilorin reservoir, Asa reservoir, Apodu reservoir, Asa river (Unity), and Asa river (Unity) (Harmony). In Tilapia zillii and Clarias gariepinus, we measured serum biochemical (AST, ALT, ALP, serum ALB), histopathological (gills, lungs), and serum antioxidant enzyme responses (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST) as a biomarker for oxidative stress, while micronucleus and comet assays were used to detect DNA damage. Except for DO, which was very low in the two rivers, the physicochemical parameters and heavy metals evaluated in the ve separate water bodies were within the allowed levels of the NSDWQ and WHO standard for drinking water. In comparison to the Unilorin, Apodu, and Asa reservoirs, a slight increase in Pb was observed across the ve sampling sites, which could contribute to increased biochemical and haematological proles, histopathological lesions in the gill and lungs, inductions of MN, NA, and DNA single strand break in T. zillii and C. gariepinus collected from Asa rivers. This could be due to the indiscriminate dumping of euents from adjacent industries, agricultural wastes, and household wastes into rivers.


Introduction
Water is a universal solvent that can dissolve a wide range of compounds to varied degrees. It is a priceless resource since it provides vital support to all types of plants and wildlife. Reservoirs and rivers are valuable biological resources that serve a variety of human requirements, including water conservation (domestic irrigation water supply), ood management, and hydroelectric power generation [1] Water pollution is widely acknowledged as a potential threat to both human and other animal populations that interact with the aquatic environment, resulting in a progressive deterioration of the water body's quality [2,3,4]. Water conservation has become a challenge due to pollution. This could be due to the daily input of contaminants from home, agricultural, and/or industrial wastes, all of which harm sh [3,5].
Fish are ecologically important and commercially valuable in Nigeria's and other countries' shing industries [6,7]. Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zillii, for example, are regularly and widely grown in ponds, and they also exist naturally in Nigerian fresh water. As a result, changes in the aquatic environment as well as physic chemical alterations have a signi cant impact on sh physiology [8]. Because sh absorb pollutants directly from contaminated water, their physiological stress responses are extremely comparable to those of mammals [4,9]. Because of their ability to digest and store toxins in water in their numerous organs, sh have also been acknowledged to be a viable choice of animal for evaluating hazardous potential of contaminants (Martin and Costa 2015). They also respond quickly to low concentrations of toxicants, and their responses are similar to those of vertebrates, as sh have antioxidant enzymes that are similar to those found in vertebrates and are utilised to counteract the detrimental effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [10,11].
There are various factors that in uence water quality, but most past studies on the subject have focused on heavy metals. Variations in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in rivers, as well as the harmful consequences they may have on aquatic life, are underreported, particularly in Nigeria. BOD is the quantity of oxygen taken up by microorganisms living on organic compounds present in the sample (e.g. water or sludge) when incubated at a speci c temperature (typically 20oC) for a set period of time (usually 5 days, BOD5) [12]. BOD is an indicator of water pollution since it offers information about the readily biodegradable percentage of the organic load in water. If BOD5 is greater than 5 mg/L, the water is considered contaminated. The amount of oxygen equivalent of organic matter in a water sample is referred to as COD. It's a common metric for determining the susceptibility of organic and inorganic components in municipal, agricultural, and/or industrial wastes to oxidation. Higher COD values indicate that there is more oxidizable organic material in the sample, lowering DO levels. Anaerobic conditions can result from a decrease in DO, which is harmful to higher aquatic life forms. Hypoxia in water bodies has been shown to enhance ROS production and block the intracellular antioxidant system in aquatic animals, leading to physiological abnormalities and mortality [13].
Asa, Oyun, and Apodu reservoirs, as well as associated water bodies, support a diverse range of sh species and provide the majority of water consumed in Ilorin city, University of Ilorin, and Malete town in Kwara state [1,7,14]. Fresh sh and sh items were also provided to the public via its resources. Industrial, agricultural, and home waste discharges and practises, on the other hand, are carried out along the river's bank. These discharges pollute the water and have a negative impact on the recipient environment's biological equilibrium [3,4,15,16,17] The purpose of this study is to provide current information on the genotoxic status of major water bodies in Kwara State, Nigeria, by investigating the physicochemical parameters of the waterbodies, tissue lesions, oxidative stress, and antioxidant response in selected sh species, and assessing the level of genotoxic damage induced in selected sh collected from ve different waterbodies.
The Asa reservoir is located 5 kilometres south of Ilorin, across the Asa River, between latitudes 8O25 and 8O27N and longitudes 4O32 and 4O34E. The reservoir was built between May 1975 and January 1977 with the goal of addressing the ever-increasing need for drinking water, agriculture, and a source of revenue through commercial shing for the rapidly growing population of Ilorin, the state capital of Kwara state. The rivers Iwonte, Jia, and Segbekuke are the main tributaries. With a maximum length of 20 kilometres, a breadth of 7 kilometres, and a depth of 13 metres, the reservoir is unusually huge and wide, with a storage capacity of around 43 million cubic metres [14].
The University of Ilorin reservoir is located in the western portion of Central Nigeria, bounded by longitudes 4o 40'52" to 4o 41'0"E and latitudes 8o 27'5" to 8 o28'5"N in the Ilorin south local government of Kwara state. URe was founded in 1975, and physical construction of the structures began in 1979. Between 2015 and 2016, it was restored to a depth of around 5m and a submerged area of roughly 650 km2. The dam's principal aim is to provide water to the university villages for drinking and irrigation. Because no industry is located along its path, the water rarely receives waste.
Apodu reservoir is located in Apodu hamlet, some 7 kilometres from Malete Town in Kwara State's Moro local government region. The dam was built in 1980, and the re-impoundment was completed in 2016. It is located between longitudes 8°45'25.9" N and 45'27.7" N, and latitudes 4°27'41.4"E and 4°27'35.5"E, with a length of 560 metres and a width of 400 metres, and a depth of 8.2 metres, with a surface area of around 15 hectares. It has two seasons: a dry season during which the water ow rate declines and a rainy season during which the water ow rate remains constant. It is located in Nigeria's Guinea Savannah region. The reservoir's principal purpose is to supply water for drinking and agriculture to the surrounding villages [3,7,18].
With coordinates of 8°28'0"-8°31" N and 4°32'0"-4°34" E, the Asa river is one of the major rivers in Ilorin Kwara state. The river is home to a number of businesses, including Dangote, Coca-Cola, the pharmaceutical, and detergent sectors. Near the river, there are a few small agricultural enterprises such as Ugwu and cassava plantations. The dumping of garbage, sewage disposal, and indiscriminate discharge of e uents/chemicals into the river's body is frequent, making the water appear unsafe for drinking and household purposes [19].

Samples Collection
In the early hours of the day, two separate sh species, Tilapia zillii and Clarias gariepinus, were gathered from the ve sites: Unilorin reservoir, Apodu reservoir, Asa reservoir, Asa river (unity), and Asa river (Harmony) (6:00-8:30am). They were caught with cast nets, gill nets, and baskets by shermen. The sh were sorted and identi ed at the species level using the methods of [20], as well as the assistance of a sh taxonomist. The two most common sh species captured at the various sites were T. zillii and C. gariepinus; however, T. zillii specimens were in plenty and were used primarily in our experiment.
The sampled sh were delivered to the Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, in transparent 50-L plastic aquaria with net cover (to enable ventilation and prevent the sh from jumping out). Before blood was collected through the tail area or by caudal vein puncture for analysis, 1% of ethyl alcohol was used for sedation and the sh were allowed to recuperate from stress. Our investigations used two separate sh species (both T. zilli and C. gariepinus) (n=5 per site) for each analysis. This was done three times. Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and heavy metals were all measured in water samples taken from reservoirs and rivers. A Hanna portable waterproof tester, model HI 98129, was used to measure water parameters. A Hanna multiparameter bench photometer for laboratories, model HI 83200, and an AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer) (model: Buck scienti c ACCUS-IS 211) were used to determine the heavy metals.

Analysis of oxidative stress and tissue lesions
To conduct the oxidative stress analysis, blood was drawn from T. zillii (n=5) from each site and stored in EDTA bottles prior to analysis. Dissection and xation were used to obtain gill and liver tissue samples for lesion examination. These tissue samples were xed for a day (24 hours) in buffered formal saline and then processed for para n tissue embedding using the procedure of [21]. The organ slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and viewed using an Olympus light microscope according to [22].

Haematological Investigation
Blood was analysed using the methods outlined by [23,24]. Blood samples were collected from the sh at several sampling locations and sent to the lab for analysis, including red blood cell (RBC) pro les, white blood cell (WBC) pro les, and platelet pro les.

Antioxidant Enzyme
The activity of Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was measured using 1 chloro 2, 4 dinitrobenzene as a substrate [25]. Using an extinction coe cient of 9.6mM-1cm-1, the speci c activity of glutathione Stransferase was expressed as nmoles of GSH-CDNB conjugate formed/min/mg protein. The catalase activity (CAT) assay based on the breakdown of H2O2, in which the absorbance was measured at 240nm (pH 7.0, 28°C) and expressed as unit/mg protein.
The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured spectrophotometrically at 420nm and expressed as a unit/mg protein using the [26] method, which relies on the autooxidation of adrenalin due to the presence of superoxide anion. The assay for glutathione peroxidase was performed using [27] technique. To a combination containing 0.2mL of buffer, 0.2mL of EDTA, and 0.1mL of sodium azide, around 0.2mL of tissue homogenate was added. After good mixing, 0.1mL reduced glutathione and 0.1mL hydrogen peroxide were added, and the mixture was incubated for 10 minutes in a water bath at 37°C. After the incubation period, 0.5mL of 10% TCA was added and centrifuged for 5 minutes at 10000 rpm. In a separate test tube, 1.0 mL of the supernatant was added to 2.0 mL Tris buffer and 50 l DTNB.
The OD was measured at 412nm right away. While the activity of glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1. 6.4.2) was measured according to [28].

Micronucleus Assay
Using a 2mL syringe and needle, blood was obtained from the caudal area of the two sh species (T. zillii and C. gariepinus) [n=5 per site]. The needle was placed ventrally into the caudal portion of the sh's body until it pricked the vertebral column, then moved out a little to allow blood to ow into the syringe. A drop of blood was immediately placed on a clean, grease-free microscope slide to form a thin blood smear after the dispenser drew around 0.5 ml of blood. In a dust-free environment, the smeared slides were allowed to air dry overnight. The air-dried slides were xated in 70% absolute methanol for 20 minutes before being air-dried overnight. The slide was then stained with 10% Maygrunwald, cleaned with distilled water, and air dried overnight after drying. After that, the glass slide was stained with 5% giemsa, rinsed with distilled water, and dried. Under a light microscope, the dried slide was scored by counting a total of 2000 erythrocytes, which were then analysed with oil immersion at 1000X magni cation for micronucleus (MN) and nuclear abnormalities (NA) as cytogenotoxicity biomarkers [29,30].

Assay for Comet
The rst/base layer was generated by coating totally frosted slides with 1 percent normal-melting-pointagarose overnight. The second layer consisted of 75 l of 0.7 percent low-melting-point agarose (LMA) and 25 l of lymphocyte suspension. The slides were immediately covered with cover slips and refrigerated on ice for 10 minutes to harden the agarose. The cover slips were removed, and a third layer of 90 l 0.5 percent LMA was applied, followed by the cover slips being reinstalled and the agarose being allowed to harden for 10 minutes over ice. Triplicates of each sample were taken. For 2 hours at 4°C, the slides were submerged in a cold alkaline lysis solution. The slides were then refrigerated in a horizontal electrophoresis tank pre-lled with cold alkaline electrophoresis buffer for 20 minutes at room temperature to loosen the tight double-helical structure of DNA for electrophoresis. The electrophoresis was then carried out in electrophoresis buffer at 4°C for 20 minutes at 25 V, 300 mA. After electrophoresis, a drop-by-drop application of Tris buffer (0.4 M Tris, pH 7.5) was used to neutralise excess alkali; the buffer was left on the slides for 5 minutes. This process of neutralisation was carried out three times.
After that, the slides were stained for 10 minutes with 80 L propidium iodide (2 g/ml). To avoid further DNA damage, all of the preceding operations were carried out in the dark [31]. A Nikon 90i uorescence microscope was used to view the comets, and a digital imaging system was used to gather photographs of 100 comets for each concentration. Overlapping cells were not counted. Comet Assay Software Project (CASP, Wroclaw University, Poland) was used to examine all of the comet images, and the tail length (TL), percent tail DNA (% TDNA), and Olive tail moment (OTM) were recorded to describe DNA damage to lymphoma cells.

Statistical Analysis
The micronucleus abnormalities and differences between the test groups were assessed using the SPSS software package version 21.0 (SPSS 21.0). The differences were compared using one-way ANOVA, and the Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) was used to evaluate the degree of statistical signi cance at p 0.05. The mean standard error was calculated.

Results
3.1 The water samples' physicochemical properties demonstrate a drop in DO and an increase in Pb when compared to the permitted limit in drinking water.
Except for DO, which was very low in the two rivers, all of the physicochemical parameters and heavy metals evaluated (Mn, Cu, Ni, N, P, Fe, Cl, and Ca) in the ve separate water bodies were within the NSDWQ and WHO permitted levels ( Table 1). When compared to the limit set by the two organisations, all ve locations saw a modest rise in Pb (mg/L) ( Table 1).
3.2 Biochemical and tissue lesions studies of T. Zilli sh show elevated ALT, AST, ALP, and albumin levels, as well as aberrant gill and liver architecture. Table 2 shows that the serum ALT, AST, ALP, and albumin enzyme activity of T. zillii in Asa river Unity were signi cantly higher (p0.05) than in the other four sites. In comparison to the reservoirs, the AST enzyme activity in Asa river Unity and Asa river Harmony are higher. Similarly, when compared to other sites, the ALT of the Asa River Unity and the Apodu Reservoir indicate higher activity. Figure 2I shows a photomicrograph of T. zillii gills taken at the sampling sites. A photomicrograph of a T. zillii gill from the Unilorin reservoir, showing the highly vascularized gill arch and outgrowing lamellae under extreme magni cation. The highly vascularized gill arch and their connecting primary and secondary lamellae are shown at extreme magni cation in the Apodu reservoir (B). It looks to be normal, with a lengthy and well-vascularized lamellar system and no signs of pathology. The principal lamellae appear to be short and are supported in the middle by a cartilage with a good vascular supply. T. zillii from the Asa reservoir has a highly vascularized gill arch and outgrowing lamellae, with no evidence of pathological changes ( Figure 2I (C). The principal lamellae appear to be short and are supported in the middle by a cartilage with a good vascular supply. Figure 2I (D) shows a high-power magni cation (x400) of the gill arch and gill rakes in a photomicrograph of T. zillii gill from Asa river in Unity. The secondary lamella appear to be pathologically altered, as they appear to be degenerating, deformed cartilage with epithelial lining. The gill arch and their neighbouring primary and secondary lamellae are shown in Figure  2I (E), which is a photomicrograph of T. zillii gills from Harmony. It seems deformed, with disruption of gill laments that appear to be degenerating and twisted, as seen in the gill arch. Their general histomorphology appears to be normal, with no obvious pathological changes. In C; T. zillii liver from Asa reservoir, hepatocyte nuclei are densely dispersed (black arrow). The micrograph looks to be typical of normal, with normal staining intensity and histoarchitectural presentation. The photomicrograph in D (Unity) depicts the central vein (black outline) and a high magni cation of hepatocytes (black arrow), exhibiting nuclei placement, staining intensity, and overall histomorphological presentation. A standard sized halo spaced centre vein is surrounded by densely scattered hepatocytes in this histomorphological presentation of the liver. The T. zilllii liver in E (Harmony) exhibits thickly scattered hepatocyte nuclei (black arrow). The micrograph looks to be typical of normal, with normal staining intensity and histoarchitectural presentation.
3.3 RBC, WBC, and PLT levels have increased in haematological study. Table 3 shows the mean value of haematological parameters along with the standard deviation. Table 3A shows that RBC (red blood cell), HGB (haemoglobin), MCV (mean corpuscular volume), and MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin) in T. zillii from Asa river (Unity) are signi cantly higher (p0.05) than in other sampling sites. MCH and MCHC (mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) levels in Asa river sh also increased signi cantly (Harmony). The changes in HCT (haematocrit) and RDW (red blood cell distribution width) between the 5 sites were minor. There was no signi cant difference (p0.05) between the 5 sites in WBC pro les (WBC (white blood cell), LYM (lymphocyte), MID (mid-sized cells), and GRAN (granulocyte). When compared to other species, T. zillii near Asa river (Unity) has a considerable rise in GRAN (Table 3B). PLT (platelet), MPV (mean platelet volume), PDW (platelet distribution width), PLCR (platelet larger cell ratio), and PCT (plateletcrit) measurements across the ve sites indicate no signi cant variation (p0.05). However, PLT and PDW in T. zillii at Asa river (Harmony) and PLT and PLCR at Asa river (Unity) increased signi cantly (Table 3C).

3.4
The release of antioxidants indicates that the cells are under oxidative stress.
The order of antioxidant enzyme reactions in T. zillii blood was statistically different (p0.05) across the ve sampling sites; SOD responses were highest in Unity river, followed by Unilorin, Harmony, Apodu, and lowest in Asa reservoir; CAT responses were signi cantly highest in Unity, followed by Harmony, Unilorin, Apodu, and least signi cant in Asa reservoir; GPx responses were greatly induced in Apodu, followed by Asa reservoir, Unity, Harmony, and lowest in Unilorin; GR responses were signi cantly Unilorin; GR responses were signi cantly Unilorin; GR responses were signi cantly (Table 4; Figure 3).
Micronuclei (MN) increase, nuclear abnormalities (NA), and DNA single strand break are all signs that the sh are suffering from DNA damage. The peripheral blood erythrocytes of two sh species (T. zillii and C. gariepinus) obtained at various locations demonstrate induction of micronuclei (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities (NA), such as binucleated, nuclear bud, notched, lobed, and blebbed. With each of the two sh species obtained, site comparisons were made(ARiU> (ARiH) ≥ (APRe) ≥ (URe) > (ARe) (Figure 4b). In this investigation, it was discovered that T. zillii had a higher amount of NA than C. gariepinus ( Figure 4b).
As illustrated in Figure 5a and b, the level of DNA damage detected in the peripheral lymphocytes of sh collected at various places was assessed using the alkaline comet assay with parameters such as percent tail DNA, olive tail moment, and tail length. The blood cells of sh obtained from the Asa river Unity had the highest degree of DNA single strand break. In sh gathered at Unilorin and Asa reservoirs, there was no signi cant variation in the level of DNA single strand break. When comparing the two sh species, the DNA damage reported in T. zillii is higher than in C. gariepinus. In comparison to the selected reservoirs, DNA damage was found to be higher in sh species taken from river sites. The level of DNA damage in the Apodu reservoir has been found to be higher in reservoir sites. The level of DNA damage at each of the ve locations is as follows: >Apodu,> Asa river harmony,>Unilorin>Asa reservoir.

Discussion
The Nigerian Standard for Water Quality is the legally recognized standard for drinking water quality in Nigeria (NSDWQ). This speci es the allowed values (which must not be exceeded) for certain water parameters before it may be regarded safe to drink [32]. Because to indiscriminate discharge of home, agricultural, and industrial pollutants into water bodies, most rivers and reservoirs around the world are polluted. These wastes are hazardous, and they have the potential to change the ecosystem and genetic makeup of aquatic organisms. The physico-chemical characteristics in the rivers (Asa river Unity & Harmony) show a low level of DO and a minor increase in BOD, indicating hypoxia and a slight nitrate content due to runoff from agricultural elds in the vicinity that utilize pesticides and fertilizers for farming. Increased Pb, low DO levels in the river, and a modest increase in BOD and COD values obtained from the Asa river in Unity could be due to industrial e uents, home wastes, and runoff from some agricultural operations along the river's edge. This is due to de-oxygenation brought on by the discharge of industrial e uents into the water body. Because it determines the distribution of animals and ora, DO has been recognized as the most essential measure for measuring water quality [33]. Local streams in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state, have also been found to be polluted by home sewage and waste, resulting in low DO and high Nitrate levels, according to our ndings [34].
The enzymes ALP, AST, and ALT are produced in the liver, and their presence in the blood signi es liver damage. Signi cantly higher levels of oxidative enzymes in Asa river Unity indicate sh liver in ammation, damage, stress, and disease, which could be linked to a minor rise in conductivity, BOD, COD, and a fall in DO, which could have put the sh under undue stress. This is consistent with the ndings of [35], who found signi cant levels of AST in examined sh samples as a result of water pollution.
The gills, one of the important organs, are a key target for contaminants since they are in constant touch with the outside world [36]. The histological lesions discovered in the gills, particularly near Asa river Unity and Harmony, suggest that the sh react to hazardous chemicals in the water. According to [37], this could disrupt the blood ow in the gills. The liver, which is most affected by pollutants in the water, is the organ most connected with the detoxi cation and biotransformation process. The liver histology presentations in the Asa River Unity, Asa River Harmony, and Apodu reservoirs revealed aberrant liver architecture with vacuolation. According to [15,38], this change could be caused by a pollutant in the ecosystem..
Blood is a tissue that reacts to changes in our surroundings. It consists of RBCs, WBCs, PLTs, and plasma. They're useful bioindicators for determining water quality [3,4,39,40,41,42]. Changes in haematological parameters can be caused by contaminated water. In comparison to other sampling locations, we found a signi cant increase (p0.05) in RBC, HGB, MCV, MCH, GRAN, PLT, and PLCR in T. zillii from Asa river (Unity). MCH, MCHC, PLT, and PDW levels in Asa river sh were likewise signi cantly higher (Harmony). This nding is consistent with that of [43], who found minor alterations in HGB, MCHC, and WBC levels, as well as signi cant changes in RBC, MCV, and MCH in blood of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in two lakes in Kosovo. This disparity in RBCs could be related to the rivers' low DO levels (Asa rivers (Unity/Harmony) and a modest increase in Pb. Animal anemia is diagnosed using blood parameters such as MCV, MCH, and MCHC [44]. In the event of various anemias, the values of these indicators increase.
Changes in water quality parameters have been linked to the activation of the antioxidant defence system in sh and other aquatic organisms living there, which may further elevate antioxidant responses in these organisms in the presence of environmental pollutants from agricultural, domestic, and industrial sources, as well as land ll leachates, resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [45,46]. Although oxidative stress and antioxidant responses have been used as biomarkers to assess the genotoxic potential of rivers in Nigeria such as the Ogun, Eleyele, and Asejiri rivers [47,48,49], little is known about the oxidative stress and antioxidant responses of sh in major reservoirs and rivers in Kwara state When there is an imbalance in the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in sh, the antioxidant defence system is triggered, and this defence is swiftly activated to checkmate oxidative stress that may be generated by elevated levels of pro-oxidants in the sh [50] (Livingstone 2001). The initial line of defense against oxidative stress is usually SOD and CAT, and their activities are easily evident as an increase in enzyme activity [51]. Antioxidants may be reduced in cells as a result of exposure to environmental contaminants, but antioxidant levels may rise to compensate for the oxidative stress imbalance [48,49]. Increased SOD activities in Unity and Harmony rivers could be a reaction to oxidative stress produced by low oxygen levels (low DO and modest increase in Pb), which could lead to hypoxia. Reduced oxygen levels may have triggered the generation of superoxide anions (the most damaging free radicals), which were catalytically scavenged by SOD and converted to H2O2, a defence readily adopted by the sh's antioxidant enzyme to limit oxygen toxicity. The ndings in the SOD activities harmony and Unilorin reservoir are consistent with the ndings of [47,50], who link higher SOD concentrations in sh to oxidative stress. In sh exposed to contaminants, CAT is a key enzyme that works on hydrogen peroxide. CAT, along with SOD, is normally the rst line of defence in sh exposed to pollutants, and while CAT levels increase in sh exposed to pollutants, CAT levels have been found to decrease in contaminated water bodies, as reported by [47]. Representative sh species in the Unilorin reservoir and Unity river had lower CAT levels than those in the Harmony river, but the CAT values in the Asa and Apodu reservoirs were not statistically different. Increased generation of ROS is slowly beginning to overpower the CAT defence, which could suggest that the sh is under oxidative stress. The CAT level ndings are consistent with those of [48], who found that an increase in ROS generation is associated with lower catalase activity and other antioxidant enzymes. Increased CAT activity in the Harmony River is a common response to environmental contaminants, as CAT and SOD are the rst line of defence against oxidative stress. The blood of representative sh species from Apodu reservoir had the greatest GPx levels, followed by Asa reservoir and Unity river. GPx activity was reduced in the Asa river (Harmony), with the lowest values found in the Unilorin reservoir. Increased GPx levels show that this enzyme has a preventive and adaptive role against oxidative stress caused by heavy metals or organic contaminants. The increased GPx level backs up the ndings of [53], who discovered that sh GPx activity was 1.8-fold greater in contaminated rivers. The lower GPx level could suggest a low amount of pollution in the Unilorin reservoir and a circumstance where the Asa river is self-purifying (Harmony). In order to maintain the GSH/GSSG ratio, GR catalytically reduces oxidised glutathione. GR and GPx operate together because an increased level of GR may indicate oxidative stress, which may necessitate an increase in GPx to offset the stress impact [55]. The highest GR values were found in the blood of representative sh species from Unilorin reservoir, followed by Asa river (Harmony), Apodu reservoir, Asa river (Unity), and Asa reservoir with the lowest GR values. Increased GR may indicate oxidative stress in sh, which is consistent with the ndings of [56], who found increased GR in sh exposed to higher levels of pollution. GST levels were found to be lower in the blood of T. zillii from Unilorin reservoir, Asa river (Harmony), Asa river (Unity), Apodu reservoir, and Asa reservoir, and higher in Asa reservoir. The decrease can be linked to an increase in ROS production, and antioxidant levels in cells may be depleted in cells during exposure to environmental contaminants, according to [49]. The degree of DNA damage was then evaluated using two separate tests. When compared to C. gariepinus, the micronucleus test, which is a reliable and sensitive assay that is commonly used as a diagnostic of DNA damage, revealed induction of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in T. zilli at all ve sites. Our ndings contradict those of [56], who found that the peripheral blood of C. gariepinus was particularly sensitive to the production of MN when compared to T. zillii, which was sensitive to the creation of MN when compared to two other tilapia species; Oreochromis niloticus, and Oreochromis aureus. This could be due to the fact that T. zillii has accumulated various metals in its body systems, such as Pb, and it also shows that its genome can withstand cytogenetic damage without apoptosis. The ndings support [57] nding that sh living in contaminated waters, such as the ARiU location in our study, have higher micronuclei rates (MN). MN frequencies can change depending on the season, stress, pollutant type, and heavy metals.
The comet assay has been used to evaluate the impact of genotoxic contaminants on DNA integrity with great success. It has several advantages as a tool for genotoxic studies, including the ability to detect genotoxic damage at the single-cell level, suitability for most eukaryotic cell types; only a small number of cells are needed, faster and more sensitive than other available methods for detecting strand breaks, low cost, and the ability to detect early genotoxic exposure response [58,59]. In this work, the comet assay in sh was used to assess the genotoxicity of the ve sample sites for the rst time across all ve sites. Because comets might be observed with the same length but varied uorescence intensities, the percentage tail DNA (percent tail DNA) is the parameter of choice for DNA damage assessment [60]. In descending order, Asa river (Unity)>Apodu reservoir> Asa river (Harmony)>Unilorin reservoir>Asa reservoir displays the reservoir with the highest and lowest DNA damage (Asa river (Unity) and Asa reservoir).
The Asa river (upstream), which has extended its path towards the Unity area (mid-stream) and Harmony area (downstream), exhibits a striking pattern. When compared to its courses, the Asa river (upstream) has the least DNA damage (Unity and Harmony rivers). Low DNA damage in the upstream and high DNA damage in the midstream could be linked to the amount of genotoxic chemical exposure. When a pollution gradient exists along the river, the rising amount of genotoxicity in C. gariepinus and T. zillii peripheral erythrocytes is directly linked to the level of pollutant. The trend observed on the Asa water course agrees with [61], who found that DNA damage was highest in the mid-stream (Asara) of the Karai river due to high in ux of pollutants from sewage and industries, and DNA damage was lowest in the upstream (Varangerud) due to low pollution levels.
According to [3] the increase (percent tail DNA and tail length) observed in Apodu reservoir compared to the negative control can be attributed to a slight increase in Pb and nitrate pollution due to sewage disposal and runoff from nearby farms that use pesticides and fertilisers for their farming activities. Exposure to pollutants from diverse sources can have additive, synergistic, or antagonistic interactions with sh [62]. DNA damage can accumulate through an increase in the number of DNA-damaging events or a decrease in DNA repair [62,63]. The Apodu reservoir's results are consistent with those of [64], who found a considerably higher degree of DNA damage in Channa punctatus and Mystus vittatus erythrocytes exposed to contaminated water from the Gomti River in India when compared to baseline values. When compared to the negative control, the Unilorin reservoir contains a low percentage of tail DNA. This is likely due to the fact that it is utilised for leisure activities and the reservoir is not close to residential areas, thus it receives little or no domestic garbage. The only conceivable source of contamination would be runoff during the rainy season or from the reservoir's water channel.
In most of the sampling sites, the results from the combined use of comet test and antioxidant responses to determine genotoxic potential were in accord, but in a few, they differed. Both the comet assay and antioxidant enzyme reactions indicated that the Unity and Harmony rivers were contaminated. This is comparable to the ndings of [65], who found that the comet assay and antioxidant enzyme responses matched. The Apodu and Unilorin reservoirs have a little difference. Although DNA damage is modest in the Unilorin reservoir, antioxidant responses were inconsistent, which could imply that the reservoir is likely exposed to minute contaminants that induce these reactions. The antioxidant responses of the Apodu reservoir, which has substantial DNA damage, are mild. This is because, according to the researchers, the comet assay is a more sensitive test than the antioxidant response because it can identify toxins at low doses [62]. As a result, combining the comet assay with antioxidant enzyme responses allows for a more complete picture of a water body's genotoxic condition.

Conclusions And Suggestions
Using various tests and antioxidant enzyme reactions, the cytogenotoxic potential and antioxidant response of ve water bodies were studied. The water bodies surveyed were found to be currently polluted, and if anthropogenic activity on these water bodies continue unabated, the ecology and biotic life may deteriorate more quickly than self-puri cation can repair. It Tables   Due to technical limitations, table 1-4     Tables.pdf