Authors : U.U. Gabriel , P.E. Anyanwu and A.O. Akinrotimi
Abstract: Effect of confinement stress as a result of acclimation on haemotological parameters of S. melanotheron was investigated. Two hundred and seventy apparently healthy adult male and female S. melanotheron (mean weight, 31.14�0.34 SD) mean length 11.14�0.16 cm SD) were collected from recruitment ponds in the African Regional Aquaculture Centre, Brackish water farm, Buguma and confined in tanks for seven days effects the blood characteristics before and after confinement. Confinement caused reduction (p< 0.05) on Haemoglobin (Hb); Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Leucocrit (Lct) and Red Blood Cell (RBC) of male and female; Thrombocytes (Thr) and Lymphocytes, (Lym) and of male fish. White Blood Cell (WBC); Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH); Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV); Neutrophils (Neut.) and Monocytes (Mon) were raised (p< 0.05) after confinement. This indicates that confinement exerts some level of stress on the fish and should be taken into consideration when collecting blood for analyses, more so if appropriate values are to be used for determining the heath status of the fish.
U.U. Gabriel , P.E. Anyanwu and A.O. Akinrotimi , 2007. Blood Characteristics Associated with Confinement Stress in Black Chin Tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron . Journal of Fisheries International, 2: 186-189.