Hematological and biochemical parameters for the pirarucu Arapaima gigas Schinz, 1822 (Osteoglossiformes, Arapaimatidae) in net cage culture.
M. Tavares-Dias1, J. F. M. Barcellos2, J.L. Marcon3,G. C.
Menezes4, E.A. Ono4, E.G. Affonso4
1Institute of Health
and Biotechnology, Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), Coari, AM, Brazil
2Department of Physiological
Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University
of Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, AM, Brazil.
3Department of Morphology, Institute
of Biological Sciences, Federal University
of Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, AM, Brazil.
4Department of Aquaculture, Amazonian National
Research Institute (INPA), Manaus, AM, Brazil.
Abstract: In the present work fish blood
parameters such as erythrocytes, thrombocytes, leukocytes,
electrolytes
(Cl-, Na+, K+
and Ca+2) and metabolic products
(total protein, glucose, urea, triglycerides and cholesterol) were measured in healthy
Arapaima gigas, when kept in culture
in Central Amazon. The mean ± standard
deviation and range were established.
Red blood
cell
indices of A. gigas indicate a
high demand for oxygen with high carrying oxygen capacity. Hematological values
reported in this work provide basic information on a species of increasing
economic interest, and therefore these values
may be a useful tool for the control
of their state of health
and nutritional conditions.
Furthermore, comparisons of these results
with those of wild
A. gigas could
help to better understand these
parameters in natural populations.
Key Words: freshwater fish,
haematology, Arapaima gigas, leukocytes,
plasma chemistry
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