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Effects of virgin microplastics on goldfish (Carassius auratus)
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Researchers fed goldfish three types of virgin microplastics — fibers, fragments, and pellets — for six weeks and observed significant weight loss, changes in gut tissue, and fiber accumulation in gills. The study suggests that different microplastic shapes cause different sub-lethal effects, with fibers appearing to be particularly problematic due to their tendency to entangle in tissues.
Microplastics (MPs) are abundant in freshwater and marine environments. They are diverse shape and size and are ingested by organisms. In this study, goldfish (Carassius auratus) were exposed via diet to three types of virgin MPs material types and shapes including fibers, fragments, and pellets. After six weeks of exposure, various sub-lethal effects, but no mortality, was observed. Fish exposed to plastic showed significant weight loss compared with the control. Fibers were found in the gills, gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and feces were not likely to accumulate in the GIT. Pronounced and severe alterations were found in the livers of fish exposed to fibers. The distal intestine showed more pronounced and severe changes compared to the proximal intestine, likely due to an intake of fibers. The ingestion of fibers caused the highest frequencies of progressive and inflammatory changes in the livers and intestines. This is in accordance with the higher organ index in these organs compared to other texa. Conversely, fragments and pellets were not ingested but chewed and expelled. Chewing process resulted in damages to the jaws as ranging from slight exfoliation to deep incisions. The highest frequency of regressive and circulatory (e.g., dilated sinusoids) changes was found in fish exposed to fragments, specifically in the upper and lower jaw, and in lower jaw and liver, respectively. Together, these results demonstrate that ingestion and chewing of MPs lead to damages in various organs and tissues of the gastrointestinal system, and suggest that different materials can have drastically different impacts on fish.
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Effects of microfiber and bead microplastic exposure in the goldfish Carassius auratus: Bioaccumulation, antioxidant responses, and cell damage
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Researchers exposed goldfish to two types of microplastics, fibers and beads, and found that both caused oxidative stress in the liver and kidney, with fiber-type microplastics generally producing stronger effects. The microplastics accumulated in fish tissues and triggered changes in antioxidant gene expression and cell damage over the five-day exposure period. The findings suggest that the shape of microplastics matters for their biological impact, with fibers potentially being more harmful than beads.
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Goldfish exposed to microplastic fibers through contaminated feed developed movement problems, changes in fatty acid levels, and shifts in gut bacteria, including more harmful bacteria types. The effects differed from fish exposed to the fibers through water alone, suggesting that eating contaminated food may pose a distinct health risk in fish farming.
Size-dependent effects of microplastic on uptake, immune system, related gene expression and histopathology of goldfish (Carassius auratus)
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Researchers exposed goldfish to two sizes of polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations for 28 days. The study found that microplastics accumulated in gill, liver, and intestine tissues, causing damage that worsened with smaller particle size and higher doses. The results indicate that microplastics trigger oxidative stress and immune responses in fish, with smaller particles posing greater health risks.
Assessment of the Risk of Microplastics on Gill and Gut Health and Subsequent Pathogen Susceptibility in the Goldfish Model
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Researchers assessed how polystyrene microplastics of two sizes affect gill and gut health in goldfish and their subsequent vulnerability to bacterial infection. They found that microplastic exposure caused tissue inflammation, increased immune gene expression, and thickened gill and intestinal structures. Notably, exposure to smaller 0.5-micrometer microplastics significantly reduced fish survival when challenged with a bacterial pathogen, indicating that microplastics can compromise immune defenses in fish.
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