Haematological and serum biochemical reference intervals of juvenile African bonytongue fish (Heterotis niloticus. Cuvier, 1829) sampled from the river benue, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: Based on the potential clinical and management significance of selected hematological and serum biochemistry parameters, study aimed to establish the hematological and serum biochemistry reference ranges for juvenile Heterotis niloticus (African bonytongue fish) a fish with significant aquaculture potential in Africa. Design and procedure: Hematology and serum biochemical reference ranges were determined in blood and serum samples obtained from 243 healthy juvenile Heterotis niloticus sampled from three locations along the Benue River and its adjoining wetlands. The reference ranges were obtained using the Shapiro Wilk test and the guidelines of the national committee for clinical laboratory standards. Results: Hematological reference ranges are; packed cell volume 19 – 27 %; hemoglobin concentration 3.1– 6.4 g/dL; total erythrocytes count 1.59×106 – 2.92 ×106 µ/L; total leucocytes counts 4.97× 103 – 5.40 × 103 µ/L; mean corpuscular volume 113.7 – 218.7 fL; mean corpuscular haemoglobin 25.06 – 28.85 pg; mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration 12.61– 20.27 g/dL. Serum biochemical reference ranges are; serum glucose, 51.0 – 89.50 mg/dL; total protein 56.5 – 79.50 g/L; globulin 11.5 – 15.50 g/L; albumin 32.88 – 69.35 g/L; aspartate amino transferase 79.2 – 98.3 U/L; alanine amino transferase 24.78 – 46.0 U/L. Alkaline phosphatase 28.75 – 57.25 U/L; creatinine 51.0 – 80.0 g/L; urea 13.1 – 17.10 mg/dL and uric acid 1.90 – 2.30 mg/dL. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: These data will provide clinically useful information for the diagnosis, treatment and prognostication of intervention and or outcomes in the culture and or zootechnical management of Heterotis niloticus in natural water bodies.