The aim of the present work was to validate two organs (liver and gill) of Hoplias malabaricus for analysis of aquatic contamination biomarkers in the Maracanã Environmental Protected Area (APA) in São Luís-MA. Trahira animals were captured in a pond polyculture and Ambude River located in Maracanã APA. Biometric analysis was performed in the laboratory. Gills and liver of each specimen were fixed in 10% formalin and kept in 70% alcohol to running the usual histological technique. Cuts of approximately 5μm thick were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). The results concerning the biometrics of the fish caught during the dry season indicated that the total and standard length were higher when compared to the rainy season. The liver changes identified were: lipidosis, necrosis, leukocyte infiltration, vacuolization of the cytoplasm, hemosiderin and melanomacrophages centres. We found the following gill lesions: melting lamellar, lamellar aneurysm displacement, necrosis of the epithelium, proliferation of mucous cells and capillary dilation. The biological responses of H. malabaricus, recorded in gill and liver level, can be characterized as biomarkers of aquatic contamination. The gills appeared as the best organs for this kind of analysis in the species. These results indicate that the fish have health problems caused by pollutants present in the analyzed environments.
biomarkers; histological lesions; environmental monitoring
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