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CUMHURIYET SCIENCE JOURNAL, vol.47, no.2, pp.236-242, 2026 (TRDizin)
Tau-fluvalinate is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide and acaricide that is extensively utilised for the management of numerous agricultural pests. However, mounting evidence suggests that tau-fluvalinate exerts a deleterious effect on the health of aquatic organisms, resulting in tissue damage and mortality. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of sublethal tau-fluvalinate concentrations on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver, gills, and muscles of Poecilia reticulata. The fish were exposed to tau-fluvalinate concentrations of 0.0033, 0.0065, and 0.013 µg/L for a period of 96 hours. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, in addition to malondialdehyde levels, were analysed in the liver, gills and muscles. A statistical analysis was conducted on these data (P<0.05). In all tissues, exposure to tau-fluvalinate resulted in significant decreases in antioxidant enzyme activities and marked increases in malondialdehyde levels, indicating increased oxidative stress. The findings reveal that sublethal tau-fluvalinate exposure weakens the antioxidant defence system and causes tissue damage in the liver, gills, and muscles of Poecilia reticulata.