The Efficacy of Myrtle (myrtus Communis L.) As An Anaesthetic on Common Carp Cyprinus Carpio Juveniles

Abstract

Extracted solution of myrtle (Myrtus communis) with five concentrations (400, 500, 600, 700 and 800 mg/l) were used to anesthetize juveniles of the common carp Cyprinus carpio (total length 8.91 ± 0.31 cm and total weight 7.72 ± 1.19 gm) instead of the traditional use of MS-222. Fish behavior was noticed during anesthesia. MS-222 is an expensive chemical substance that causes cancer for workers and fish consumers and also pollutes the aquatic environments. Results showed that extracted solution of myrtle have partial and overall anesthesia effect on juvenile common carp with inverse relationship between the concentrations and the time needed to reach partial and overall anesthesia, and also direct relationship between concentrations and time needed for fish recovery. Best results were obtained by using a concentration of 700 mg/l, where time for partial anesthesia was 10 ± 1.22 min., time for overall anesthesia was 15 ± 1.34 min., time needed for partial recovery was 18 ± 2.32 min. and time needed for overall recovery was 22 ± 2.51 min. Fish behavior observations revealed a difference ranging from slow swimming with increasing in breathing movements to vertical swimming near the surface, then laying at bottom and too much decrease in breathing movements. Results appeared that there were no significant differences (p>0.01) between glucose concentration in fish blood plasma after recovery and control fishes, so it was concluded that these fishes exhibited no stress during anesthesia by using myrtle extracted solution. The results showed that there were no significant differences (p>0.01) in both alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) (serum enzymes) among fishes after recovery in comparison with the control fishes. This indicated that the treated fishes exhibited no physiological effect which might lead to poor health condition.