Influence of Vitamin C on Hematology of Pangasianodonhypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) Juveniles during pre andpost-challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila (Chester, 1901)

Abstract

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to know theeffect of vitamin C on the hematological responses of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus juveniles during pre- and post-challenge conditions with Aeromonas hydrophila. A total of seven purified diets were prepared with 0 (control), 17.5 (T1), 35 (T2), 70 (T3),175 (T4), 350 (T5) and 700 (T6) mg ascorbic acid(AA) equivalent per kg of diet, supplied as L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (LAPP) and fed to tripli-cate group of P. hypophthalmus juveniles (mean initial body weight: 3.23±0.01 g to 3.38±0.01 g) for 60 days twice daily. After the feeding and after challenging with A. hydrophila, the haematological parameters were measured in P. hypophthalmus juveniles. All haematological parameter values(except albumin-globulin ratio) viz., serum glucose,total protein, albumin, globulin, hemoglobin (Hb),total erythrocyte count (TEC), total white blood cells count (WBC), hematocrit value (HCT) increased significantly (p<0.05) in treatment groups than control (vitamin C depleted diet). Further, the increased hematological values for most of the parameters were observed in the range of 175 to 350mg AA per kilogram. Therefore, it is suggested that dietary supplementation of 175 to 350 mg AA per kilogram diet would be beneficial for the optimal hematological responses for P. hypophthalmus juveniles.