Haematological, serum biochemical and anti‐oxidative enzymes responses of sutchi catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) against Aeromonas hydrophila using various carbon sources in biofloc system.

Abstract

A 90- day experiment was conducted to study haematological, serum biochemical and anti-oxidative enzymes responses of sutchi catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthal-mus) fingerlings in biofloc system using various carbon sources. The experiment con-sisted of four treatments and control (clearwater) having three replicates using three hundred sutchi catfish fingerlings (6.40± 0.05 g) in 15 tanks (20 in 100 L). Various carbon sources viz. tapioca, sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet were assigned as BFT- T, BFT-S, BFT-PM and BFT-FM, respectively. Post- rearing, sutchi catfish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila (1 × 107 cfu/ml), and blood and serum param-eters were analysed. During pre-challenge condition, significantly (p< 0.05) higher haemoglobin concentration (7.69 ± 0.13 g/dl), total erythrocytes count (1.62 ± 0.02 106 cells/mm3), total leucocytes count (137.34 ± 4.37 103 cells/mm3), packed cell volume (23.93 ± 1.84%) and mean corpuscular volume (142.33 ± 6.80 fL) were ob-served in BFT-FM as compared to control. The mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration did not differ significantly among the treatments. The serum biochemical parameters were significantly higher in BFT-FM compared to other treatments. The serum glucose (59.44 ± 2.04 mg/dl) and cortisol (50.82 ± 2.21 ng/ml) were significantly lower in BFT-FM than other treatments and control. Serum superoxide dismutase and catalase values increased significantly in biofloc groups when compared with control. The haematological and biochemical val-ues did not differ significantly between the pre- and post-challenge conditions, and stimulated immune response was observed in sutchi catfish against A. hydrophila. The results reveal that finger millet- based biofloc application acts as an immunostimulator; and thereby, reducing the stress and improving haematology and biochemical status of P. hypophthalmus fingerlings.