HEMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CURIMBATÁ, Prochilodus scrofa STEINDACHNER, 1881 (OSTEICHTHYES, CHARACIFORMES, PROCHILODANTIDAE), STOCKED IN EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS

Resumo

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hematological characteristics of the Brazilian freshwater fish "curimbata", Prochilodus scrofa. The animals were obtained by hormone-induced reproduction (using Pregnyl-HCG) and bred in stocking tanks with two animals per square meter. Samp1es were taken when specimens reached the ages of: 3 months; 1 year and 4 months; 2 years and 2 years and 3 months. Blood collected from the caudal artery was used to determine: hemoglobin concentration (g/100 ml), number of erythrocytes (10⁶/mm³), hematocrit (%), and differential leukocyte count. The following indices were calculated: MCV (mean corpuscular volume), MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) and CMHC (concentration of mean corpuscular hemoglobin).