Blood analysis of "curimbatá†( Prochilodus scrofa ), "pacu†( Piaractus mesopotamicus) and "tambaqui†( Colossoma macropomum ), from Instituto de Pesca Experimental Stations, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the hematological parameters of "curimbatá" (Prochilodus scrofa), "pacu" (Piaractus mesopotamicus) and "tambaqui" (Colossoma macropomum, reared  under experimental conditions at the Experimental Fish Farming and Raniculture Station of Pindamonhangaba and Aquaculture Research Center of Ribeira Valley (CEPAR), at Pariquera-Açu, both belonging to the Fishery Institute of São Paulo. The specimens were collected in April 1994 and the total cell numbers (Er), hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), differential leucocyte counts, and hematological index were calculated. P. mesopotamicus and P. scrofa showed a relationship between species and age, the "curimbatá" and old specimens showing the highest values. The same pattern was found for the fishes collected in CEPAR. The "tambaqui" was collected only in CEPAR and showed Ht = 27.4 ± 1.4%; Er = 158.4 ± 8.3 x 10⁴/mm³; Hb = 6.2 ± 0.2 g/100 mL; VCM = 179.9 ± 2.7µm³; HCM = 37.2 ± 2.1 pg and CHCM = 22.9 ± 0.6%. The limphocytes were the most frequent cells in pacu peripheral blood, while neutrophils were more abundant in "curimbatá" peripheral blood. The highest eosinophils values occurred in the "pacu" peripheral blood, the young specimens having the highest values.