Hematological changes in snakeskin gourami, Trichogaster pectoralis, affected by epizootic ulcerative syndrome

Abstract

Selected hematological parameters of the circulating blood of snakeskin gourami, Trichogaster pectoralis, naturally affected by epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) were compared with those of apparently healthy fish collected from the same habitat to evaluate the effects of EUS on the general hematological profile of this species. Results show that erythrocyte count, haematocrit, and haemoglobin levels of the fish exhibiting advanced stages of EUS were significantly lower than those of the apparently healthy, mildly and moderately affected fish. Leucocyte counts of the fish exhibiting moderate stages of EUS indicate leucocytosis coupled with neutrophilia. Abundance of neutrophils was also significantly high in the fish exhibiting advanced stages of EUS. Alterations in the abundance of leucocytes in the fish with moderate and advanced stages of EUS may be associated with the non-specific immune response to the disease.