Abstract:
The increase in human population and reports of large numbers of people, malnourished or starving
(especially in the developing countries) has made the need for food production a major worldwide issue
of concern. Therefore, this study is aimed at finding out the changes in the haematological and serum
biochemical parameters induced by starvation in African catfish (Clariasgariepinus).The experiment
was carried out in two plastic experimental tanks (50x34cm) for 3 weeks in the Fisheries Laboratory, of
the Department Of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Blood
samples were collected from caudal blood vessels, blood was separated in two portions; one portion was
mixed with anticoagulant while another portion of sample was centrifuged without anticoagulant for
serum separation. Haematology, biochemical indices and blood serum results from the experiment were
subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS) 2006 version 15.0. In the starved fish (21 days) a significant reduction in the hemoglobin and
hematocrite content was observed. It was observed that the starvation induced a significant decrease in
protein, creatinine, triglycerides, enzymes like Serum glutamate oxaloacetate Transaminase (SGOT),
Serum Glutamate Pyruvate, Transaminase (SGPT) and electrolyte sodium whereas glucose and Blood
Urine Nitrogen (BUN) increased after starvation in the sample organism. The changes in environmental
factors such as deprivation of food causes stress on the fish which may bring about disturbance in the
blood parameters and thereby affecting the survival of the fish. Starvation induces different responses on
blood biochemical level, depending on how long the starvation lasts, therefore, proper feeding of farmed
fish should be practiced by farmers to reduce fish mortality, increase fish production and enhance
hunger eradication |
