Fish injuries resulting from transient operating conditions in a Brazilian hydropower plant: morphological, physiological and biochemical evaluation in <i>Pimelodus maculatus</i> (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)

Pedron, Janaína dos Santos; Bernardes Junior, Jurandir Joaquim; Ribolli, Josiane; Souza, Jennyffer; Pereira, Aline Guimarães; Tolentino, Hugo; Barros, Romuel; Milarch, Carine de Freitas; Dias, Rafael José Gonçalves; Guereschi, Renata Maria; Latini, Alexandra; Nuñer, Alex Pires de Oliveira

doi:10.1590/1982-0224-2022-0104

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Original Article • Neotrop. ichthyol. 21 (3) • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2022-0104 linkcopy

Fish injuries resulting from transient operating conditions in a Brazilian hydropower plant: morphological, physiological and biochemical evaluation in Pimelodus maculatus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

This study investigated injuries sustained by Pimelodus maculatus caused by transient operating conditions in a Brazilian hydroelectric power plant. Fish (n = 43) that inhabited the tailrace and appeared on the water surface after changes in the operating conditions were evaluated (IF). Additionally, fish (n = 10) captured using longline in the vicinity of the tailrace were used for comparisons (NF). Blood samples were evaluated for cortisol, glucose, and lactate concentrations. Tissue samples (gill, liver, brain, and muscle) were analyzed for oxidative stress biomarkers (TBARS, protein carbonyl content, and catalase activity) and histology (gill, liver, and spleen). The most prominent findings in IF were barotraumas with intra-abdominal hemorrhage and swim bladder rupture. Cortisol and glucose concentrations were lower for IF when compared to NF. IF also suffered from oxidative stress, as indicated by increased TBARS in the liver and brain, as well as increased protein carbonyl content in the gills and liver. The main histological alterations induced by the adverse conditions were circulatory disorders, such as telangiectasia and gill aneurysm, hepatic congested veins, and hemorrhage in the liver and spleen. The abrupt drop of pressure resulting from changes in the operating conditions of the turbines caused barotraumas and oxidative stress, which were the leading causes of fish mortality

Keywords:
Barotrauma; Blood parameters; Hemorrhage; Oxidative stress; Uruguay River

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Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia Neotropical Ichthyology, Departamento de Biologia Animal e Vegetal, CCB, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Km 380, Cidade Universitária, 86055-900, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, Phone +55(43)3371-5151 - Londrina - PR - Brazil
E-mail: neoichth@nupelia.uem.br

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Transient operating condition	Description
Startup	The turbine runner goes from rest to nominal speed in seven min (slow startup scheme), the unit is synchronized to the grid, and the load is increased (load acceptance).
Synchronous condenser to generating mode	At the synchronous condenser mode, the turbine is operated in air conditions rotating at the synchronous speed driven by the generator acting as a motor. Depending on the energy demand, the turbine goes from synchronous condenser mode to generating mode. The scheme adopted by the Machadinho HPP to return to generating mode involves a sequence of shutdown and slow startup.
Shutdown	The turbine runner comes to stop after working as synchronous condenser, by opening the deaeration valve to expel air from the runner to the atmosphere and break the runner by friction with water under the runner.

Injury	Shutdown	Start-up	SC to generating mode
Branchial arch rupture	–	4.5	–
Swim bladder rupture	93.8	90.0	80.0
Intestine rupture	–	4.5	–
Spleen ruptured	–	–	20.0
Intra-abdominal hemorrhage	68.8	72.7	100.0
Branchial hemorrhage	12.5	27.3	20.0
Eye hemorrhage	6.3	–	–
Subcutaneous hemorrhage	12.5	13.6	–
Abdominal distension	68.8	54.5	100.0
Over-inflated swim bladder	6.3	4.5	20.0
Subcutaneous emphysema	6.3	4.5	–
Grazes/Laceration	18.8	9.1	–
Stomach eversion	12.5	18.2	20.0
Exophthalmia	18.8	9.1	20.0
Viscera extrusion through the urogenital opening	–	4.5	60.0
Eye loss	6.3	–	–
Venous embolism	6.3	18.2	–
Embolism in kidney	–	13.6	–
Hemorrhagic fins	12.5	13.6	–
Hemorrhagic kidney	–	27.3	–
Hemorrhagic liver	12.5	22.7	–
Hemorrhagic spleen	43.8	22.7	–
Opercular fracture	6.3	4.5	–
Spine fracture	–	4.5	–
Fins fracture	6.3	4.5	–
Head fracture	12.5	18.2	–

Blood parameter	NF	IF
Cortisol (ng mL-1)	39.9 ± 16.9a (n = 10)	13.2 ± 11.4b (n = 30)
Glucose (mg dL-1)	86.1 ± 55.7a (n = 10)	21.6 ± 11.5b (n = 23)
Lactate (mmol L-1)	8.2 ± 3.9a (n = 10)	5.7 ± 4.6a (n = 24)

Biochemical parameter	Fish group	Tissue
Biochemical parameter	Fish group	Gill	Liver	Brain	Muscle
TBARS levels (µmol mg-1 protein)	NF	554.9 ± 36.7a (n = 10)	147.3 ± 107.8a (n = 10)	30.4 ± 19.2a (n = 10)	3.7 ± 2.9a (n = 8)
TBARS levels (µmol mg-1 protein)	IF	475.1 ± 331.9a (n = 26)	630.5 ± 543.3b (n = 30)	46.4 ± 15.7b (n = 30)	3.9 ± 2.9a (n = 27)
Protein carbonyl content (µmol mg-1 protein)	NF	137.5 ± 19.8a (n = 9)	127.6 ± 36.5a (n = 10)	59.2 ± 48.9a (n = 10)	32.6 ± 21.7a (n = 10)
Protein carbonyl content (µmol mg-1 protein)	IF	398.0 ± 38.5b (n = 25)	168.1 ± 50.2b (n = 29)	74.6 ± 46.9a (n = 30)	18.6 ± 8.3b (n = 28)
Catalase activity (µmol min-1 mg-1 protein)	NF	100.4 ± 74.3a (n = 10)	334.2 ± 249.9a (n = 10)	122.2 ± 54.9a (n = 10)	31.9 ± 29.5a (n = 10)
Catalase activity (µmol min-1 mg-1 protein)	IF	71.4 ± 59.1a (n = 30)	488.2 ± 474.3a (n = 30)	56.6 ± 29.5b (n = 30)	35.7 ± 23.3a (n = 30)

Fish group	Aneurysm	Epithelium detachment	Telangiectasia	Interlamellar hyperplasia
NF	0.0a	20.0a	0.0a	0.0a
IF	28.1a	71.9b	46.9b	87.5b

Tissue	Fish group	Melanomacrophage Centers	Mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate	Congested veins	Hemorrhage
Liver	NF	100.0a	0.0a	0.0a	0.0a
Liver	IF	100.0a	0.0a	70.3b	24.3a
Spleen	NF	100.0a	100.0a	0.0a	0.0a
Spleen	IF	100.0a	64.5b	29.0a	12.9a