The haematological assessment of bacterial infection in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Abstract

The pH, pCO2 and pO2 values for diseased fish did not differ significantly from those values for healthy fish, but fish treated with terramycin showed a highly significant rise in pCO2 with a corresponding fall in pO2. Haematocrit values, as well as haemoglobin and total plasma protein concentrations were significantly lower in diseased fish while treated fish showed a significant rise in total plasma protein. Glucose concentrations fell very significantly in diseased fish and showed a significant increase in treated fish.The plasma electrolytes, sodium, potassium and chloride, were significantly reduced in diseased fish and potassium levels also fell in treated fish. Diseased fish showed very significantly reduced erythrocyte counts. Of the three parameters MCV, MCH and MCHC, only the values for MCH in diseased fish differed significantly from those for healthy fish.