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ABSTRACT
Reproductive anomalies in aquatic organisms, particularly gastropods, have raised concerns due to their implications for ecosystem health and potential risk to human population. The aim of this study is to investigate the reproductive abnormalities in gastropods population in Ikpoba river, identifying environmental stressors. The methodology used includes sampling of gastropods at various sampling stations, laboratory examination of the tissue (both Histopathology analysis and antioxidant enzymes analysis), water and sediment of the river (Heavy Metal analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometer). It was observed that there were no significant changes (p > 0.05) in heavy metal contents of water and sediment while there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the heavy metal concentration in the gonads of the snail. The antioxidant enzymes activities on the other hand had significant changes (p < 0.05) with the greatest increase in Red GSH activity from 9.5238ug/mL to 234.2857ug/mL. The histology of gonads also revealed unremarkable membranes (chorion) that appears not so distinct with basophilic hyperchromatic cellularity of germinal vesicles (short arrow). while some of the gonads' histology reveals demarcated membranes (chorion) that appear not distinct with reduced cellularity of germinal vesicles and yolk granules. This result suggest that snails from Ikpoba river are at a high risk of reproductive anomaly and human beings or predators of these snails stand at risk of being poisoned due to the high heavy metal concentration in them. Consistent monitoring and proper treatment measures should therefore be put in place.
