Authors : P.E. Anyanwu , U.U.Gabriel , A.O. Anyanwu and A.O. Akinrotimi
Abstract: The effects of changes in salinity levels on some haematological indices of S. melanotheron were studied. The fish were sampled from the wild of salinity 12% and transferred to laboratory where the salinity which was level gradually reduced by 2 units everyday to 0.34% over a period of seven days. This caused a consistent reduction (p< 0.05) in the blood characteristics with the value of haemoglobin 6.38�0.71 to 4.81 0.98 (g dL 1); packed cell volume 19.03�1.38 to 16.50�2.59%, leucocrit 5.60�1.27 to 4.74�1.36%, red blood cell 2.50�0.14 to 1.50�0.44 (�1012cells), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration 33.83�5.31 to 31.56�9.13 g dL 1 thrombocytes 177.22�19.54 to 158.67�21.87 (�109cells) and lymphocytes 44.63�6.67 to 34.60�7.40%. However, the other parameters in the treated group had an increment (p< 0.05) in the values white blood cells 30.00�4.30 to 31.40�4.17 (�109cells); neutrophils 34.52�4.57 to 39.40�4.42%, mean corpuscular volume 76.26�6.06 to 118.82�38.45 (pg); mean corpuscular volume 76.27�6.08 to 118.82�38.45 (fl) and monocytes 2.53�0.63 to 3.01�0.72%. This study shows that gradual reduction in salinity levels exerts some degree of stress in the blood characteristics of S. melanotheron and that such changes could either be a reduction or an increase in the values depending on the parameters.
P.E. Anyanwu , U.U.Gabriel , A.O. Anyanwu and A.O. Akinrotimi , 2007. Effect of Salinity Changes on Haematological Parameters of Sarotherodon melanotheron from Buguma Creek, Niger Delta . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 658-662.