Tissue glucose and haemoglobin levels in the catfish Clarias albopunctatus during anaesthesia with ketamine hydrochloride

Abstract

Adult Clarias albopunctatus (mean weight 64.8 ± 1.09 g) were subjected to anaesthesia for 72h with ketamine hydrochloride. The fish demonstrated uncoordinated and gyratory movements before reaching anaesthesia. The time taken to reach anaesthesia at the tested concentrations of ketamine differed in the treatment groups (P < 0.05). The haemoglobin, liver and plasma glucose concentrations were determined at 2, 4, 12, 48 and 72h interval. The mean liver and glucose concentrations were significantly elevated by ketamine hydrochloride (p < 0.05).The mean haemoglobin concentration was also significantly increased in the anaesthetized fish (p < 0.05). Both the liver and plasma glucose concentrations were significantly increased in the anaesthetizedsh. The result showed that ketamine hydrochloride appeared to have long-lasting anaesthetic effect on the fish.

Keywords: Clarias, Anaesthesia, Ketamine hydrochloride, Haemoglobin, Glucose