Authors : Oluah Ndubuisi Stanley and Ulasi A.M. Omerebele
Abstract: Clarias gariepinus juveniles were exposed to sublethal lead poisoning in the laboratory for 28 days in a static renewable bioassay system. Ninety Clarias gariepinus juveniles (mean length 35.0±2.50 cm and mean weight 150±5.20 g) divided into 3 groups of thirty fish each were used for the study. The fish were exposed to 0sublethal concentrations (0.0, 0.1 and 0.4 mg L-1) of lead as lead chloride. The changes in the haematological parameters of the fish were assayed every seven days. When compared with the control, the haemoglobin concentration decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing lead concentration and with duration. Erythropoiesis increased significantly (p<0.05) with lead concentration. The erythrocyte count differed significantly (p<0.05) in the between the treatment groups. There was significant leucocytosis as the test concentration increased and with duration. The morphological indices MCV, MCH and MCHC decreased as the test concentration increased except on day 28 when the MCHC increased with concentration (p<0.05).
Oluah Ndubuisi Stanley and Ulasi A.M. Omerebele, 2010. Changes in the Haematological Parameters of Clarias gariepinus Exposed to Lead Poisoning. Journal of Fisheries International, 5: 72-76.