The hematological changes in snakehead (Ophicephalus striatus) affected by epizootic ulcerative syndrome

Abstract

Selected hematological parameters were studied in snakehead from Laguna de Bay (Philippines) affected with different stages of epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS). For comparison, normal (from a non-endemic area) and apparently normal fish were also studied. The hematocrit values of normal and apparently normal fish, 45.04 ± 0.71 and 47.20 ± 1.03%, respectively, were significantly higher (P<0.05) than severely affected fish (29.30 ± 2.34%). The same trend was observed for serum protein (7.09 ± 0.11 and 6.35 ± 0.27 g/100 ml for normal and apparently normal fish, respectively, against 4.68 ± 0.42 g/100 ml for severely affected fish) and hemoglobin (9.80 ± 0.26 and 9.70 ± 0.26 g/100 ml against 4.67 ± 0.42 g/100 ml) concentrations. The granulocyte counts of normal and apparently normal fish, 26.2 and 60.3, respectively were significantly lower than severely affected fish (210.0). This general hemodilution could be attributed to loss of body fluids and depression of hematopoietic tissues in the spleen and kidney.