Evaluation of Low Levels of Salinity on Hematological Parameters and Health Status of Channel Catfish Reared in Multiple‐Crop Ponds

Abstract

A 1-year study was conducted from February 1999 to January 2000 to determine the effects of low levels of salinity on selected hematological parameters (total protein, hematocrit, leukocrit, and osmolality) and the health of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus reared in ponds managed under the multiple cropping production strategy. We stocked 2,000 catfish into 15 ponds (0.08 ha each) that we subdivided into five replicate ponds per each of three NaCl (salinity) treatments: freshwater conditions (nominal salinity ϭ 0 g/L of water) or adjusted salinities of 1.5 or 3 g/L. Total protein, hematocrit, and plasma osmolality for fish reared at the NaCl-induced salinities were significantly higher than those for fish cultured in freshwater. Although the leukocrit of fish reared at a salinity of 3 g/L was significantly higher than that of fish reared in freshwater or at 1.5 g/L, all were within the normal ranges reported for channel catfish. Although two bacterial diseases known to routinely affect channel catfish (enteric septicemia of catfish and motile aeromonad septicemia) were observed at all salinity levels tested, columnaris disease was not observed during the study. Parasitic infections during certain months were less severe for fish reared in saline ponds than in freshwater. The results indicate that the hematological variables measured in this study were higher at increased salinities but within the ranges reported as normal for channel catfish.

Effect of Temperature on Growth, Feed Utilization, and Immune Status of Channel Catfish in a Recirculating System

“…Anemia of channel catfish occurs most frequently during April to August, when the water temperature is high (Plumb et al 1993). However, Hk was similar among temperatures in this study and within the range reported for healthy channel catfish (Wedemeyer 1996;O'Neal et al 2006). Channel catfish and other fish may adapt to temperature changes through compensatory increase or decrease in immune mechanisms, which could help protect them from major pathogens present at different times of the year.…”

Sex-Related Differences in Hematological Parameters and Organosomatic Indices ofOreochromis niloticusExposed to Aflatoxin B1Diet

“…Blood acts as a pathological reflector of the status of animals exposed to the toxicant and other conditions; animals with good blood composition likely show better performance [ 9 , 10 ]. The study of the physiological and hematological characteristics of cultured fish species is an essential tool in the advancement of aquaculture systems, especially with respect to the detection of healthy versus infected or stressed fish [ 11 , 12 ]. In addition, Ronald and Bruce [ 13 ] described organosomatic indices as the proportion of organs to body weight; an organ measured in relation to body mass can be directly connected to toxic effects by a chemical to the target organ [ 14 ].…”

Toxicity, physiological, histopathological, handling, growth and antiparasitic effects of the sodium chloride (salt) in the freshwater fish aquaculture

“…Fish exposed to NaCl may suffer physiological changes to preserve the consistence and body stability. An increase in the haematocrit may result from losing too much water because of the difference between the internal and external environmental ion concentrations, which led to water loss as a result of osmotic pressure, thus increasing the haematocrit (Al‐Hilali & Al‐Khshali, 2016; O’Neal et al, 2006 ) . Moreover, the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes may also vary in response to stressful situations such as exposure to NaCl (Table 4).…”