Haematological characteristics of albacore, Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre), and skipjack, Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus)

Abstract

Observations on haematological characteristics of albacore, Thunnus ululungu, and skipjack Katsuwonus pelurnis, tunas, were made on blood samples collected from specimens immediately after they were caught and from an immobilized, restrained albacore sampled serially over a 24 h period. Results indicated eight types of blood cells in the peripheral circulation of both species. Lymphocytes were the most common leucocyte followed, in decreasing order, by neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes in fish sampled immediately after being landed. Variations in differential and total white blood cell counts were observed in the immobilized, restrained albacore, High packed cell volumes and haemoglobin concentrations, typical for fast swimming fishes, were found in both species. Red blood cell counts were similar to those of other teleosts, and reticulocytes expressed as a percentage of mature erythrocytes were 6.1% and 5.2% for albacore and skipjack, respectively.

Haematology and leucocyte morphology of wild caught Thunnus maccoyii

“…Saunders (1966) found eosinophils form between 4 and 7% of the leucocyte population (including haemoblasts) of yellowfin and blackfin tunas. In the study by Alexander et al . (1980), excluding thrombocytes gave albacore and skipjack tuna mean eosinophil abundances of 13 and 11% respectively.…”

“…This number was at least twice the number reported for adult Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. in a seawater environment (Conroy, 1972; Kjartansson et al ., 1988; Sandnes et al ., 1988; Iwama et al ., 1995). Erythrocytes of T. maccoyii were a comparable size to those documented for yellowfin Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre) and blackfin Thunnus atlanticus (Lesson) tuna, (10–12·5 × 7–7·5 μm), larger than albacore Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre)(9 × 6·6 μm) and smaller than northern bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (L.)(13–13·2 × 8·9–9·4 μm)(Saunders, 1966; Gutiérrez, 1967; Alexander et al ., 1980).…”

“…Consistent with this study, large and small eosinophils were reported from one individual for both yellowfin and blackfin tunas (Saunders, 1966). Eosinophils were present as one size only in skipjack tuna and albacore, but smaller eosinophil‐like cells were reported (Alexander et al ., 1980). As with southern bluefin tuna, the eosinophils of northern bluefin tuna and albacore are larger than the neutrophils, with eosinophils measuring 11 × 13 μm and 8·9 × 5·0 μm for these species respectively.…”

Metabolism at the Max: How Vertebrate Organisms Respond to Physical Activity

“…From mass action, it is clear that when lactic acid is produced during glycolytic ATP production, CO 2 will be produced from HCO 3 − present in the body water. This is how respiratory exchange ratios frequently exceed 1 at VO 2max (see Ref.…”

Effect of the infestation by Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus, 1758 (Copepoda, Lernaeidae) on the leucocytes of Schizodon intermedius Garavello & Britski, 1990 (Osteichthyes, Anostomidae)

“…On the other hand, neutrophils are scarce, and basophils and eosinophils only ocasionally are seen (Weinreb, 1958;Alexander et al, 1980;Ranzani-Paiva, 1995). Our results concerning the control group collaborate these data.…”