Haematological characteristics and plasma chemistry of an African Carp, Labeo coubie (Ruppell) in the Cross River, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Haematological characteristics and plasma chemistry of the African carp, Labeo coubie, from an inland freshwater body, the Cross River in South Eastern Nigeria were investigated. Twenty-five specimens of Labeo coubie of mean weight 163.98 ± 116.65g and mean standard length 18.91 ± 3.91 cm were used to determine reference (physiological) haematological and plasma chemistry values for this species. The physical parameters of erythrocytes, leucocytes, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit and erythrocytes sedimentation rate had values of 5.40 ± 0.70 (10⁶mm³), 0.1176 ± 0.0064 (10⁴mm³), 9.28 ± 1.20g/dl, 27.16 ± 3.72 % and 27.36 ± 8.49% respectively. The values of mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular haemoglobin were 5042.10 ± 408.270 fl, 348.40 ± 45.63 g/dl and 1.71 ± 0.13 pg respectively. The plasma biochemical profile gave the following values: plasma sodium 10.66 ± 1.55 mM, plasma potassium 15.64 ± 3.27 mM, plasma chloride 1.77 ± 1.16 mM, plasma magnesium 3.39 ± 1.65 mM, plasma phosphorus 383.20 ± 183.73 mM, plasma glucose 48.69 ± 1.65 mg/dl and plasma albumin 4.16 ± 0.92 mg/dl. While a positive correlation was observed between some parameters (e.g. between erythrocytes and haemoglobin with r = 0.857 at P < 0.01), there was a negative correlation between others (e.g. between erythrocytes sedimentation rate and mean red blood cells with r = -0.662 at P < 0.01) Implication of the result was discussed.

Keywords: haematology, Labeo coubie, erythrocytes, leucocytes, plasma, blood electrolytes

Journal of Aquatic Sciences Vol. 21(1) 2006: 47-55