C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND ADRENOMEDULLIN LEVELS IN CAPOETA UMBLA (HECKEL, 1843) AS NOVEL BIOINDICATORS FOR BIOMONITORING THE MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION IN INLAND WATERS OF TUNCELI, TURKEY

The present study focused on changes in the C-reactive protein (CRP) and adrenomedullin (ADM) levels in the liver and gill tissues of Capoeta umbla as biomarkers of environmental pollution and ecosystem health in inland waters of Tunceli (Turkey). The CRP levels in liver and gills were not significantly changed in March and September at every site (p>0.05) except for site 3 in gill tissues (p<0.05). The results of statistical analysis indicate that significant differences in CRP levels were found in liver and gills among sites (p<0.05), but no changes in the gills at March (p>0.05). In March, ADM levels in gills and liver were statistically changed among sites (p<0.05), while no statistical changes were determined in September (p>0.05). The results of this study indicated that CRP levels in the tissues of the C. umbla could be utilized as a significant bioindicator for disease pathogenesis in fish infections.