Effects of industrial effluents on some haematological parameters of Sarotherodon melanotheron and Tilapia guiniensis

Abstract

The effects of petroleum refinery and fertilizer plant effluents on some haematological parameters (packed cell volume - PCV, Total Leucocyte Counts - TLC and Differential Leucocyte Counts) in two species of cichlids; Sarotherodon melanotheron and Tilapia guiniensis were studied. This was with a view to assessing the usefulness of these parameters as indicators of pollution in Niger Delta Estuaries. Average Packed Cell Volume (PCV) ranged from 24.4 + 3 to 24.4 + 4.4 cm3 in T. guiniensis while the values for S. melanotheron ranged form 24.3 + 3 to 26.5 + 4.7 cm3. PCV is probably not a good indicator for contaminants in both species. There were high significant differences (p<0.0001) in Total Leucocyte Counts of the two species from the various sites. The highest values for both T. guiniensis (18427 + 3896 cells/l) and S. melanotheron (17776 + 3656 cells/l) were found in samples from creeks receiving fertilizer plant effluents, while values for samples from the control creek were the lowest giving 9042 + 2859 cells/l for T. guiniensis and 8662 + 2985 for S. melanotheron.


(Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences: 2002 8(3): 305-310)