Authors : A.O. Akinrotimi , U.U. Gabriel , P.E. Anyanwu and A.O. Anyanwu
Abstract: The influence of sex, methods and period of acclimation on haematological parameters of S. melanotheron was investigated. The fish were acclimated using three methods, (brackish water; gradual reduction in salinity and freshwater), for a period of 7 days. Pooled data for the trial indicate significant differences, in blood parameters before and after acclimation, in the values of haemoglobin (p< 0.001), haematocrit (p< 0.05), leucocrit (p< 0.05), white blood cells (p< 0.05), red blood count (p< 0.001), lymphocytes (p< 0.001) mean corpuscular haemoglobin (p< 0.01), mean corpuscular volume (p< 0.01) neutrophils (p< 0.001) monocytes (p< 0.001), while Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) were not significant. Acclimation methods produced, various levels of interactions (p< 0.05) in blood parameters, under consideration, with the exception of neutrophils and red blood count. The influence of sex (p< 0.05) were involving haematocrit, haemoglobin, MCH platelests, neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes. Also, it was discovered that the female had higher values of blood parameter than the males. Results from this study suggests that sex methods and period of acclimation have some degrees of influence on the blood parameters of S. melanotheron and hence the need to take more cognizance of these when reporting haematological parameters of this species.
A.O. Akinrotimi , U.U. Gabriel , P.E. Anyanwu and A.O. Anyanwu , 2007. Influence of Sex, Acclimation Methods and Period on Haematology of Sarotherodon melanotheron (Cichilidae) . Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 2: 348-352.