Hematological studies in Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cichlidae, Teleostei) - Part I

Abstract

Hemogram and cell morphology of peripheric blood samples obtained from 10 Oreochromis niloticus fishes have been evaluated. Some of these samples have been used in the accomplishment of hematimetry: eritrocytes count (x = 2.35 x 106/mm3 ±0.12), hemoblobin rate ( x = 7.04 g/dL ± 0.38), hematocrit (x = 27.85% ± 1.62), MHC (x = 30.31 pg ± 1.64), MCV (x = 118.6 p3 ± 3.53), MCHC (x = 25.78% ± 1.72), total leucocytes count (x = 16.08 x 103/mm3 ± 1.28), trombocytes count ( x = 61.69 x 103/mm3 ± 5.96). Morphological evaluation of blood cells was performed by means blood smears extension submitted to Wright staining. Both nucleated eritrocytes and trombocytes presented an elliptical shape; neutrophiles and eosinophiles were spherical with spherical nucleus presenting different sizes, they also showed profuse citoplasms which were slightly basophilic and highly acidophilous, respectively. Polimorphonuclear shapes in these cells have not been verified. Basophiles have shown spherical nucleus and metachromic granulations. Monocytes as well as lymphocytes resembled morphologically those of mammals.