Impact of organophosphates on the ovarian changes in freshwater caridean prawn Caridina weberi.

The toxicity of the pesticides (organophosphates) malathion, dimecron and monochrotophos was tested on the freshwater caridean prawn, Caridina weberi. The lethal concentration was determined in experiments carried out up to 96 hrs. The effect of organophosphates on the reproduction was shown by observing the histological changes in the ovary. The tissues were highly damaged, with loss of ooplasmic material, lack of distinct nucleus, nucleolus and chromatin material.