Abstract
Access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for people living with the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired human immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) disease cannot be overemphasized. A small amount of the ARVs are absorbed by the human body while the rest end up in the municipal sewage treatment plants works. Due to the inefficiency of the waste water treatment plants, ARVs are discharged in bioactive form and re-enter the surface and ground water sources. In South Africa, efavirenz is a preferred drug in the ARV treatment program. Therefore, fish may be unintentionally exposed to efavirenz. It is known that acute efavirenz exposure causes liver damage and elevated leukocrit levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects chronic efavirenz exposure may have on the haematology, liver, kidney, and spleen of the endemic freshwater fish species Oreochromis mossambicus (red strain). To complete the aim sexually mature adult O. mossambicus were exposed to efavirenz under controlled laboratory conditions. After 28 days 1) the biometric indices were calculated. 2) the haematology evaluated. 3) the liver, kidney and spleen microscopically assessed and 4) the levels of efavirenz in the liver determined...
M.Sc. (Aquatic Health)