Haematological changes in Barbodes carnaticus (Jerdon, 1849) in relation to seasonal variation in River Cauvery basin.

Abstract

Assessment of haematological parameters provides an integrated measure of fish health status. We conducted this study to evaluate the seasonal variations on the haematological parameters of an important commercial freshwater fish, Barbodes carnaticus during three major tropical seasons; pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon. Fluctuations in haematological parameters such as total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of B. carnaticus were assessed. Haematological parameters such as TEC and haematocrit (Hct) recorded significantly higher values (P<0.05) during monsoon. Whereas, the MCH and MCHC values were significantly (P<0.05) higher in postmonsoon. The results indicate that TEC, TLC, Hb and Hct significantly correlated (P=0.05) with water temperature and Hb significantly correlated with rainfall. The values of TLC were found high (33207 cells/mm3 ) during hot months of pre-monsoon, but no significant variations between seasons. The relation between seasonal variations in water temperature with haematological parameters is discussed. The baseline data generated in this study can be effectively used as a tool to monitor health status of B. carnaticus for sustainably managing the fish in tropical aquatic systems in a changing climate scenario.