Authors : O.A. Akinrotimi , E.J. Ansa , K.N. Owhonda , D.N. Onunkwo , O.M. Edun , P.E. Anyanwu , J.Y. Opara and P.T. Cliffe
Abstract: Effects of transportation induced stress, on the haematology of Sarotherodon melanotheron was investigated. One hundred and twenty adult male and female S. melanotheron mean weight (44.24 g ±0.26) and mean length (14.12 cm±0.34) were harvested at low tide from the recruitment ponds of the African Regional Aquaculture Centre, Brackish water research fish farm, Buguma, Rivers State, Nigeria and transported, live in 2 groups (with and without oxygen) over a distance of about 50 km by road. The results obtained showed a significant reduction (p< 0.05) in mean values of Haemoglobin (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) Leukocrit (LCT), Red Blood Cell (RBC) and the Thrombocytes (Thromb). While the numbers of White Blood Cell (WBC), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Neutrophils (Neut) Lymphocytes (Lymph) and Monocytes (Mon) increased. The variation in these parameters, were more observable in the fish transported without oxygen, than the aerated samples. There were immediate and delayed mortalities which was very high in the fish transported without oxygen.
O.A. Akinrotimi , E.J. Ansa , K.N. Owhonda , D.N. Onunkwo , O.M. Edun , P.E. Anyanwu , J.Y. Opara and P.T. Cliffe , 2007. Effects of Transportation Stress on Haematological Parameters of Blackchin Tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 841-845.